Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said on Sunday he plans to speak soon with President Trump to discuss a path forward as he considers whether to launch a bid for governor in New York.
Entering the statewide race would likely pit him against Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who is gearing up to launch her own campaign against New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D).
But, in an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday,” the swing-district Republican said he has no interest in a contested primary challenge.
“I’m going to be meeting with the president at some point soon and have a conversation about the path forward,” Lawler said in the interview.
“But one way or the other, we need to have a united front — whether it’s me, whether it’s Elise Stefanik — we need to be focused on defeating Kathy Hochul. Any effort, time or money wasted in a primary is money, time and effort not spent defeating Kathy Hochul next year,” he continued.
President Trump in May endorsed Lawler’s reelection campaign for the House, a move seen as a potential indicator of support for Stefanik.
Lawler acknowledged the importance of his seat for retaining the House majority, but he made clear he was not ready to set aside all ambitions for statewide office.
“I understand how important my seat is, obviously, to keeping control of the House,” he said. “I’m one of only three Republicans representing a district that [former Vice President Kamala Harris] won, and we have to hold the House.”
“But I also understand how important it is to have a real leader in New York,” he continued. “Kathy Hochul is the most feckless, incompetent governor in the nation. She has run the state into the ground.”
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