Speaker Johnson ‘having conversations’ as Stefanik, Lawler eye runs for NY governor

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he is “having conversations” about next year’s election for New York governor as two of his members — Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) — eye bids for the seat.

Lawler has long been teasing a run for governor, dropping hints in the past year that he will likely jump into the 2026 race. Stefanik, meanwhile, has recently been floated as another candidate after she withdrew her nomination to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She is said to be considering a run.

Asked on Tuesday if he is having conversations with Stefanik and Lawler about their potential bids and what the best path forward for the House GOP conference would be, Johnson said discussions are ongoing but would not offer any details.

“We’ve got a very talented group here,” Johnson said at a press conference. “We have lots of House Republicans who are being courted to run for Senate or governor or do something big. I mean, my preference is that they all stay here with me, we get the job done. But I don’t begrudge anybody for having other opportunities, and we ultimately support them in whatever they do.”

“But are we having conversations? We are, yeah, and that’s all I’m gonna say about it,” he added.” But ultimately look, I support my friends and — these are more than colleagues, they’re friends — and I want all of my friends to do well and go as high as they can, be of their highest and best use to the country, so we’ll see how it shakes out.”

Shortly after the press conference, however, Stefanik said she has not spoken to Johnson about the governor’s race, shifting the conversation to the fight to increase the state and local tax (SALT) dedication that is going on as part of negotiations for the GOP’s Trump agenda bill.

“This is not true,” Stefanik wrote on X in response to a post about Johnson talking to her and Lawler. “I have had no conversations with the Speaker regarding the Governor’s race. Looking forward to the conversation about SALT with NY Members tomorrow. Stay tuned.”

Johnson clarified his comments in remarks to reporters later Tuesday, saying he has not spoken to her about the gubernatorial race.

“I just talked to her. Elise is one of my closest friends, we haven't specifically talked about her running for governor,” Johnson said. “We heard about all these other things and, she's coming in to visit with me and it's all good.”

The Republican primary for New York governor could grow contentious if Stefanik and Lawler both decide to run. A poll conducted by GrayHouse found that Stefanik has a commanding lead over Lawler among GOP primary voters, 44 percent to seven percent. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman secured five percent support. The margin or error is five percent.

If Stefanik or Lawler end up entering the race and winning the GOP primary, there would be repercussions for the House GOP conference since the gubernatorial candidate cannot also run for re-election for their seat in the lower chamber. Lawler is one of the most vulnerable House Republicans, sitting as one of three GOP lawmakers to represent a district former Vice President Kamala Harris won in 2024: New York’s 17th Congressional District.

Stefanik’s seat, meanwhile, is a more safe seat, though some Republicans were nervous about the party’s special election prospects if she had left the House to assume the UN ambassador post.

— Updated at 1:01 p.m. EDT