New York Republicans Bruce Blakeman and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) engaged in a public dispute Thursday after the party’s major election defeats, with Blakeman accusing the outgoing congresswoman of failing to support Republican candidates and Stefanik defending her record of fundraising and campaigning for the GOP.

“Elise Stefanik is a selfish, do nothing politician that didn’t lift a finger to help Republican candidates in New York this year,” Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, wrote Thursday on X. “She had one moment of glory in what was otherwise an unremarkable career.”

Stefanik quickly pushed back, saying she had supported Blakeman and other Republican candidates while helping raise substantial funds for the party.

“I voted for Bruce and straight Republican ticket and have worked for decades helping Republicans across the state and country including him,” Stefanik wrote. She added that she had helped “raise over 100M to help boost Republicans up and down the ticket across the country and the state.”

“We will need everyone to be a constructive part of the effort to rebuild Republican support as we learn from this historic loss,” she continued.

The exchange followed Stefanik’s criticism of Blakeman’s gubernatorial campaign in an interview with the New York Post on Wednesday. She described his effort as low-energy and lacking the resources and organization needed to compete effectively against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

“The state party apparatus is broken,” Stefanik said. “It needs to be built from scratch.”

Stefanik also described the election results as a “Republican reckoning and a Republican reset” during an Election Day appearance on CBS News, arguing that the party needed to confront its shortcomings after Democrats made major gains across New York and the country.

The congresswoman had initially planned to challenge Hochul herself, but suspended her gubernatorial campaign in December 2025, clearing the way for Blakeman to become the Republican nominee. Stefanik said at the time that she wanted to avoid an “unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York.”

She subsequently announced that she would not seek reelection to Congress, bringing her House career to a close after more than a decade representing New York's 21st Congressional District. During that time, she became one of President Donald Trump's most prominent congressional defenders and served as chairwoman of the House Republican Conference.

Blakeman, who ultimately secured Trump's endorsement, suffered a substantial defeat Tuesday. Hochul received approximately 60.1% of the vote to Blakeman's 39.7%, according to unofficial election results. The outcome came as Democrats also expanded their advantages in the New York State Legislature and won control of both chambers of Congress nationally.

Stefanik's own congressional district remained competitive, with Trump-endorsed Republican Anthony Constantino declaring victory over Democrat Blake Gendebien in the 21st District. Unofficial results showed Constantino leading, although election officials cautioned that vote totals remained subject to updates and certification.

The dispute has exposed broader divisions within the New York Republican Party over its leadership, campaign strategy and direction. Other Republicans have also called for major changes, with some criticizing the state party's organization and others arguing that candidates need to broaden their appeal beyond the party's existing conservative base.

Blakeman's attack and Stefanik's response illustrate how the fight over responsibility for the election losses has quickly become personal, even as Republicans face pressure to develop a strategy for rebuilding their political standing in New York.