Rep. Elise Stefanik, a prominent Republican from New York, will leave Congress at the end of her current term after deciding not to run for re-election.

The 41-year-old representative for New York's 21st District made the announcement on December 19, 2025, when she also suspended her bid for governor. Stefanik cited a desire to focus on family and avoid a potentially divisive primary as reasons for stepping away from electoral politics.

Stefanik has served six terms in the House since winning election in 2014. She rose quickly through Republican ranks, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Congress at the time and later serving as House Republican Conference Chair. Her profile shifted over the years from an early reputation as a moderate to one of President Donald Trump's most vocal allies in Congress.

The decision came after Stefanik had launched a campaign for New York governor in November 2025. She ended that effort before it advanced far, clearing the way for other Republicans in the race. Stefanik's departure adds to a list of House incumbents not seeking another term ahead of the 2026 midterms.

She will vacate her seat in December, concluding an 11-year tenure representing upstate New York districts that include the North Country and parts of the Capital Region. Stefanik has not ruled out future political involvement, though she has emphasized personal priorities for now.

Her exit leaves an open seat in a district that has been reliably Republican in recent cycles. Special election processes could begin once she formally resigns, though timing depends on state procedures.