Rep. Elise Stefanik will remain in Congress after the White House pulled her nomination for U.N. ambassador, according to Lucy Hodgman. The move comes amid Republican fears that losing her seat could threaten their razor-thin House majority.
Stefanik, once considered a lock for the diplomatic post, had already stepped down from her GOP leadership role and toured her district in preparation to exit. But pressure from Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson halted her confirmation, citing risks of a divided special election in her deep-red district.
The reversal quells looming electoral uncertainty, but also frustrates allies who viewed Stefanik’s nomination as a bold next step. Democrats, meanwhile, see the delay as a sign of Republican vulnerability and are ramping up their campaigns in NY-21.
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