The next election for New York governor is not until November 2026, but the race is already heating up. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday responded to an attack from upstate Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who is mulling a potential gubernatorial run,

President Donald Trump nominated Stefanik to serve as ambassador to the United Nations shortly after winning the presidential election last November, but he withdrew the nomination at the end of March to protect the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday dismissed Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik’s possible 2026 gubernatorial run, boldly declaring: “Bring it on.” The Democratic governor was adamant she wasn’t worried about potentially facing off against the lawmaker — a day after Stefanik (R-NY) told The Post she believes she’s in the “strongest position” to take down Hochul and become the first Republican leader of Empire State in nearly 20 years.