Who Is Running in New York Congressional District 21st in 2026?
Last updated: March 4, 2026
Elise Stefanik
(Incumbent)Economy
HighCongresswoman Elise Stefanik supports job creation and economic opportunities for small businesses in Upstate New York. She advocates for lowering taxes and fundamental tax reform to create a flatter, fairer system, stating she has kept her promise to never vote for a tax hike. She introduced the Empowering Employer Child and Elder Care Solutions Act and helped lead the After Hours Child Care Act to expand childcare options. She criticizes policies she perceives as detrimental to job growth.
Immigration
HighElise Stefanik opposes immigration amnesty and supports stricter border security measures. She voted against H.R. 6, the Dream Act, and H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which she views as providing amnesty and incentivizing illegal immigration. She advocates for reforms to the H-2A agricultural labor program and aims to secure the Northern Border to address issues like increased housing costs and reduced wages.
Healthcare
HighElise Stefanik supports a pro-life stance with exceptions for rape, incest, and the mother's life. She supports expanded access to IVF and over-the-counter birth control, and opposes taxpayer funding for late-term abortions. She opposed H.R. 3, which involved government price controls for prescription drugs. Additionally, she has expressed opposition to Medicaid cuts for vulnerable populations.
Democratic Candidate
No Democratic candidate has been confirmed for this race yet. Check back after the primary.
| Issue | Elise Stefanik |
|---|---|
| Economy | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik supports job creation and economic opportunities for small businesses in Upstate New York. She advocates for lowering taxes and fundamental tax reform to create a flatter, fairer system, stating she has kept her promise to never vote for a tax hike. She introduced the Empowering Employer Child and Elder Care Solutions Act and helped lead the After Hours Child Care Act to expand childcare options. She criticizes policies she perceives as detrimental to job growth. High |
| Immigration | Elise Stefanik opposes immigration amnesty and supports stricter border security measures. She voted against H.R. 6, the Dream Act, and H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which she views as providing amnesty and incentivizing illegal immigration. She advocates for reforms to the H-2A agricultural labor program and aims to secure the Northern Border to address issues like increased housing costs and reduced wages. High |
| Healthcare | Elise Stefanik supports a pro-life stance with exceptions for rape, incest, and the mother's life. She supports expanded access to IVF and over-the-counter birth control, and opposes taxpayer funding for late-term abortions. She opposed H.R. 3, which involved government price controls for prescription drugs. Additionally, she has expressed opposition to Medicaid cuts for vulnerable populations. High |
| Climate & Energy | Elise Stefanik supports an "all-of-the-above energy policy," which includes advocating for fracking, pipelines, and nuclear energy to promote energy independence and affordability. She has also criticized New York's building electrification mandates and gas stove ban. Stefanik is committed to environmental preservation, as evidenced by her support for the permanent authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and securing funding for the Lake Champlain Basin Program. She also works to combat invasive species. High |
| Abortion & Reproductive Rights | Elise Stefanik holds a pro-life stance, allowing exceptions for instances of rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother. She opposes federal funding for late-term abortions. She also supports expanded access to IVF treatments and over-the-counter birth control. Stefanik opposed the Women’s Health Protection Act (H.R. 3755), which sought to codify abortion access into federal law. High |
| Foreign Policy | Elise Stefanik voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which allocates funding for next-generation weapons, artificial intelligence, and hypersonic systems. She also pledged to advance an "America First" foreign policy agenda and called for a review of U.S. funding to the United Nations and its various agencies. Additionally, she voted against a $60.8 billion aid bill. High |
| Education | Research pending more substantial sources. Low |
| Gun Policy | Elise Stefanik voted against bipartisan gun safety legislation in 2022, characterizing it as government overreach and an infringement on Second Amendment rights. She advocates for increased mental health resources as an alternative. Stefanik also reintroduced the Modern Firearm Safety Act, which aims to prohibit states from enacting or maintaining handgun roster requirements, citing the need to protect Second Amendment rights against what she calls an "unconstitutional gun-grabbing agenda" designed to deter gun ownership. High |
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