Breaking: Congressman Mike Lawler Will Not Run for Governor; Seeking Re-election

By Rockland Daily Staff

After months of speculation and growing rumors, Congressman Mike Lawler plans to seek re-election and will not enter the race for New York Governor.

In a Wednesday morning update, Lawler ended the suspense by stating that he plans to seek re-election to Congress and will not challenge Governor Kathy Hochul in the upcoming gubernatorial race.

“While I fundamentally believe I am best positioned to take on Kathy Hochul and offer New Yorkers a real choice for governor, I have made the decision to run for re-election to the House and continue the important work I’ve been doing over the past two and a half years,” Mr. Lawler told The New York Times this morning.

Moments later, Lawler released his official statement saying: "Serving the Hudson Valley has been the greatest honor of my life, and I'm proud of the wins I’ve delivered for New York and the American people. From delivering historic tax relief, raising the SALT cap, securing our border, and strengthening our national security and America’s role in the world, to passing groundbreaking crypto legislation to reaffirm the United States as the leader in the digital economy, I’ve shown what's possible when you put common-sense solutions above partisan politics."

"Under Kathy Hochul, New York has the highest taxes, the worst business climate, and leads the nation in outmigration. In short, Kathy Hochul is the worst Governor in America and must be defeated in 2026. Over the past six months, I have given considerable thought as to how I can best serve New York — whether in Albany or Washington."

"While I fundamentally believe I am best positioned to take on Kathy Hochul and offer New Yorkers a real choice for Governor, I have made the decision to run for re-election to the House and continue the important work I’ve been doing over the past two and a half years. There’s more work ahead, and I remain focused on putting New York families first."

The announcement comes after months of political chatter and even a recent meeting with former President Donald Trump, which only fueled the speculation. Trump had publicly praised Lawler’s performance, and over the weekend, rumors intensified that a major decision was about to be revealed.

Governor Kathy Hochul responded to Lawler’s announcement, saying: “This is the same Mike Lawler who caved to Donald Trump the moment he asked to rip away New Yorkers’ health care. Of course he doesn’t have the spine to face me.”

Shortly after the news spread, House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik issued a press release confirming Lawler's decision while launching a fiery attack on Hochul’s administration.

“Mike Lawler is a great, effective, and hardworking Representative for New York’s 17th Congressional District and is committed to protecting the House Republican Majority,” Stefanik said.

“As I have previously stated, I am focused on supporting strong Republican local and county candidates on the ballot this November to lay the groundwork with a strong team for next year. I will make a final decision and announcement after this year’s November election, which we are all focused on.”