FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Albany, N.Y. – Today, House Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik accepted the Congresswoman of the Year Award by the New York State Young Republicans at their convention.
“As the proud representative of NY’s 21st District, and the House Republican Leadership Chair, I am honored to receive the distinguished designation of Congresswoman of the Year!” said Elise Stefanik. “I want to thank Bobby Walker, Peter Giunta, and all of the hardworking Young Republicans who are the backbone of our party, for all the work they do to ensure Republican victories up and down the ballot in New York.”
“Congresswoman Stefanik has been a relentless champion for our Young Republicans and a true fighter for New York. Her selfless decision to withdrawal from a Presidential Cabinet nomination to stay in Congress and advance President Donald Trump’s agenda proves her unwavering commitment to New Yorkers and America’s future. Hailing from Upstate New York, she embodies the grit and dedication we cherish in our state. Our organization stands with Elise 100% with whatever her next steps are and we will always back her,” said Bobby Walker, President of the New York State Young Republicans.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s remarks as prepared below:
“Thank you for that great introduction Bobby and congratulations on your election as Chair of the New York Young Republicans.
I also want to recognize and thank Peter Giunta for his past service as Chair of the New York Young Republicans. I was proud to support his campaign for National Young Republican Chair. New York is very proud of you, Peter.
And congratulations to my fellow awardees this evening, all of whom I have worked closely with representing my district:
Senator Peter Oberacker, Assemblyman Chris Tague, and Otsego GOP Chair Dan Koerner.
And thank you to Senator Jake Ashby, whose district we are in right now. Jake is an outstanding State Senator, a veteran, a great dad and I am proud to work with him.
And of course to all the wonderful State Senators and Assembly Members we have here this evening. And I would be remiss if I did not recognize our great Republican County Chairs from across the state with a special shout out to my home county chair of Saratoga Joe Suhrada and North Country Regional Vice Chair Sue McNeil.
I am truly grateful to be here tonight at the Teddy Roosevelt Dinner to receive the Congresswoman of the Year Award.
It’s fitting that this event is named after Teddy Roosevelt, a true New Yorker who ‘rose like a rocket’ —as he himself put it—from the state assembly to the governorship, and ultimately to the White House.
Teddy was a populist champion for the people, fighting against the corrupt bosses to put power back in the hands of everyday New Yorkers and Americans.
He was also a brilliant military strategist, leading the Rough Riders with unmatched courage and vision and Teddy was an ardent conservative conservationist.
He loved the outdoors – in fact, it was in my very district while climbing Mt Marcy in the Adirondacks that Teddy Roosevelt found out he would become President after McKinley was assassinated. He was a New York First and America First fighter through and through.
And we must all remember Teddy’s fighting spirit as we face the significant challenges of today.
2024 was the most historic and important election in our lifetime when the American people overwhelmingly elected President Donald J. Trump for a second term.
Despite the incessant false smears from the mainstream media, the illegal weaponization of a corrupt FBI, a rogue criminal NY Attorney General Tish James trying to lock President Trump behind bars, and an assassination attempt just over a year ago, the American people saved our country by electing my good friend and fellow New Yorker President Donald J. Trump.
And President Trump has already accomplished more in 7 months than any President has ever accomplished:
The once wide-open border is now the most secure border in history.
The economy is roaring with consumer confidence setting records and manufacturing back in business.
Energy independence unleashed.
Criminals arrested and locked up, and illegals deported to bring safety to our streets.
Boys and men are no longer allowed to compete in women’s sports.
Woke universities held accountable.
Historic peace deals around the world.
I have been proud to be President Trump’s top ally in Congress and literally deliver the House Republican Majority as the deciding vote by staying in Congress.
I truly know what it means to put New York and America First.
We passed the One Big Beautiful Bill where I negotiated the largest tax cut for New Yorkers in history. We delivered No tax on tips. No tax on overtime pay, no tax on Social Security for the vast majority of seniors.
We secured the border, we made childcare more affordable, unleashed energy dominance, strengthened Medicaid and supported law enforcement. Promises made, Promises kept!
Yet while the American people believe the nation is moving in the right direction, New York is moving in the absolute opposite wrong direction under single party Democrat rule led by Kathy Hochul.
Let me ask you this: Who is ready to Fire Kathy Hochul in 2026 to save our great state once and for all?
You know a few years ago, I dubbed Andrew Cuomo the worst Governor in America and I never thought it could get any worse. But Kathy Hochul makes the impossible possible, Kathy Hochul is truly the Worst Governor in America and everyone knows it.
Under Kathy Hochul’s failed leadership of single party Democrat rule, New York has become the laughing stock of the country as we rank dead last for doing business, raising a family, education, and more. We lead the nation in outmigration with millions moving in a mass exodus.
And I can tell you as a proud Upstater, it’s not because of the weather.
We have the highest taxes in the nation causing a historic affordability crisis. Businesses are boarding up. Families are fleeing. Crime continues to soar. Antisemitism has engulfed our streets.
And just think of the contrast: Kathy Hochul supports the highest taxes and raising them even more —I cut them by the largest amount in New York history. Kathy Hochul’s first executive order was New York’s sanctuary state policies putting illegals first — In Congress, I voted to secure the border putting New Yorkers first.
Kathy Hochul wants Green New Deal scams banning natural gas fracking and her insane gas stove ban starting next year to crush our energy independence causing energy and utility prices to skyrocket—we unleashed energy dominance across America to lower costs and we will do it in New York.
And just last week, as Kathy Hochul was ripped for her failed bail reform catastrophe that led to the crime crisis in our state. Kathy Hochul and her NY Democrat mouthpieces actually tried to convince New Yorkers that NY is safer since failed bail reform
They are desperate. Give me a break. It’s actually offensive to voters. New Yorkers aren’t stupid. There is a crime crisis Kathy and it’s because of YOU!
And let’s talk about what has happened under Kathy Hochul’s failed and weak leadership as head of the NY Democrat Party.
You have the rise of the raging Communist Antisemite Mamdani, who is leading the race for Mayor of New York City.
I nicknamed him ‘Commie Mamdani’ and boy, does that stick because it’s true.
‘Commie Mamdani’ supports defunding the police. He wants to abolish the NYPD and ICE. He wants Soviet-style government-run grocery stores. He wants a massive tax increase. And he has embraced literal terrorism with his antisemitic ‘globalize the intifada.’
This is today’s NY Democrat party. And Kathy Hochul is scared out of her mind because she knows she must bend the knee. There is no question that Kathy Hochul and New York Democrats have fully embraced Marxism, antisemitism, anti-capitalism, defund the police and sheer insanity.
It is time to SAVE NEW YORK.
And this fight to save our state will take ALL NEW YORKERS – not just registered Republicans, but Independents, Conservatives, and Democrats too.
We need to bring a new generation of leadership and common sense back to our great state. And the YRs will be an important part of this mission.
And to harken back to Teddy Roosevelt, Teddy understood this.
There will be a lot of bows and arrows and attacks hurled our way, there already have been.
But we need to be in the arena in this fight to save New York:
As Teddy said:
‘The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, who spend himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.’
Next year, get ready for the arena. Because let me tell you something Kathy, New Yorkers are coming for this fight.
And while Teddy talks about victory or defeat in the arena…mark my words, when we run, we don’t run to lose, we run to WIN.
So let’s save our state by firing Kathy Hochul once and for all!
Thank you for this tremendous honor. God Bless you, God Bless New York, and God Bless the United States of America!”
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