NY Congressman Lawler Weighs Challenging Hochul for Governor

New York Republican Mike Lawler, who was just re-elected to Congress, said he’s weighing challenging the state’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul in 2026.

The congressman, who represents the 17th District in parts of the Hudson Valley, said he would look to capitalize on a shift in the electorate away from Democrats, who have lost support over undocumented immigration and criminal justice. He also blasted Hochul for reintroducing congestion pricing so soon after the election.

“We’ll take a look at it and at some point in the next year we’ll make a determination,” Lawler said in ...