New York GOP state senator throws in hat for Stefanik's soon-to-be open congressional seat

Dan Stec is a Navy veteran who has been a New York state senator since 2021.

Published: December 28, 2024 6:10pm

New York GOP state Rep. Dan Stec announced that he is tossing his hat in the ring to run in the special election next year for the seat that GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik will vacate, assuming she is confirmed as the next United Nations ambassador.

President-elect Donald Trump nominated her to fill that position following his election last month.

Stec is a Navy veteran who has been a New York state senator since 2021.

"My argument is that I am the most electable," Stec said during an interview with local media. "If we are concerned about holding this seat and the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, you want to put your most likely-to-win candidate forward and no one can compare the numbers like I do with how much of the district I already represent."

He pointed out that he had won his last election by 104,000 votes for the state senate race, according to Fox News.

He stated that he is proud of his track record and has a good score when it comes to conservative values.

"I don’t have any votes that I am embarrassed that I would have to explain like maybe someone from the other side of the aisle I have worked with would have to explain," Stec said.

The process to fill that seat is that once Stefanik, who won reelection in November for a sixth term in Congress, vacates the seat, which would most likely be as soon as she is confirmed for her UN ambassador post or the day Trump is inaugurated as president, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul will need to call a special election within 10 days. The election is then required to happen within 70 to 80 days after that, according to the Washington Examiner.

The nominees for both the Republicans and Democrats will be chosen by party chairs in the district, according to Fox News.

The delay until the special election takes place would mean that House Republicans would be down one seat for their already slim majority until as late as April 20, which is 90 days from Inauguration Day.