New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler announced Wednesday that he will not run for New York governor, choosing instead to run for reelection and avoid a potentially tense primary against a fellow member of Congress.
“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,” he told The New York Times.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, who has also been exploring a run for governor, praised Lawler and said she would make her own decision after this year’s elections.