Stefanik Awaits Confirmation

By Patrick Chase Last updated Jan 31, 2025

Elise Stefanik will likely be leaving the North Country for NYC. PHOTO CREDIT: UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

On Nov. 11, shortly after President Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik was named as Trump’s new pick for the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik, who represented New York District 21 in Congress, has held the seat since 2014 and has moved closer to President Trump throughout her career, becoming the fourth highest-ranked Republican in the House of Representatives before her appointment.

Stefanik became a prominent supporter of President Trump after his first impeachment in 2019, and she again ardently supported the president after the Jan. 6 attacks and the subsequent second impeachment. During Trump’s 2024 reelection campaign, she was named a potential running mate, a position Stefanik openly said she would accept. Although she was beaten out by JD Vance, she still courted favor with Trump.

As a reward for her steadfast support, Trump offered her the position of U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., which she accepted. Typically, this is a cabinet position, most Republican presidents downgrade the position. However, Trump has chosen to keep the position at the cabinet level.

Stefanik was likely chosen for the position not just for her loyalty but also for her skepticism and criticism of the U.N., which President Trump shares. She has previously criticized the institution for its perceived lack of support for the state of Israel.

During her confirmation hearing, on Jan. 21, Stefanik made clear that she would bring Trump’s “America First” stance to the U.N. by reviewing all funding to the U.N. to make sure it was going towards projects advancing the U.S.’s foreign interests. The U.S. is the single largest contributor to the U.N.

Stefanik said she supported Trump’s executive order pulling the U.S. from the U.N.’s World Health Organization and reiterated her desire to ensure all U.N. Agencies were prompting American interests. Stefanik also reaffirmed her belief that the U.N. has become consumed by antisemitism and criticized their treatment of Israel over the course of the conflict in Gaza. Stefanik also proclaimed that Israel has a Biblical right to Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank.

There is currently no date for Stefanik’s confirmation vote. However, she is expected to be confirmed as the new U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. If she is, NY-21 will be home to a special election for a new Congressional representative. State Republicans and Democrats are strategizing over potential candidates to run in the R+10 district, which Democrats are eager to flip. Republicans aim to lock the district down as firmly red.

Among the names already on the table are Republican David Forsythe, the current chair of the St. Lawrence County Legislator, Democrat Paula Collins, who tried to unseat Stefanik in 2024, and Democrat Blake Gendebien, a local farmer from Lisbon. The most likely Republican nominee is State Senator Dan Stec, a long-serving state Republican with longstanding support from his district and state Republicans.