Billionaire Adelson praises Stefanik at gala, hopes she wins NY governor

Exclusive – Although she stopped short of an official endorsement, billionaire philanthropist Miriam Adelson expressed her support for Rep. Elise Stefanik’s initiative. Governor of New York State She presented at the Louis D. Brandeis to the Zionist Organization of America on Sunday night, where she praised her for confronting anti-Semitism in government and higher education.

Stefanik, chair of House Republican Leadership, was honored with the Zionist Organization of America’s Mortimer Zuckerman McCabe Warrior Award for her efforts to combat anti-Semitism.

Upon introducing her at the ceremony, Adelson praised Stefanik Confronting university leaders regarding anti-Semitism She invoked her late husband Sheldon Adelson’s insistence on moral conviction.

“When I heard you speaking to college presidents, I said to myself, ‘She has the courage to speak the truth,’” Adelson said. “Sheldon would say, ‘Stand up for what you believe in even when you stand alone,’ and you showed us and the whole world courage.”

Stefanik blasts Hochul as ‘worst governor in America’ in fiery 2026 campaign launch

House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, D-N.Y., listens as President Donald Trump speaks at a House Republican Conference meeting. (Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)

Adelson went on to call Stefanik a “great leader,” and credited her with advocating for “Jewish people, Israel and the free world.”

“Thank you for continuing to be a brave lady,” Adelson said. “From here I am sending you a hug for all your accomplishments, and I hope to visit you in the New York Governor’s Office next year after the election.”

Adelson, the majority owner of Las Vegas Sands, a philanthropist and physician whose net worth is estimated at more than $30 billion, was A prominent Republican donor The pro-Trump Super PAC has supported Keeping America in multiple election cycles.

A key Trump ally is jumping into the days of the New York governor’s presidential race after his shock victory over Mayor Mamdani

Miriam Adelson arrives before the 60th presidential inauguration in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, January 20, 2025. (Image by Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)

The Zionist Organization of America event, held in New York, attracted political and philanthropic leaders from across the pro-Israel community.

“I am honored to receive such tremendous praise and support from my friend Dr. Adelson, who has served as a pillar of Jewish advocacy and strength in her fight to ensure that the light of freedom, faith and truth never goes out,” Stefanik told Fox News Digital. “I thank her for her glowing words of encouragement in my fight to save New York and fire Kathy Hochul.”

Stefanik launched her long-awaited Republican campaign for New York governor on Friday, entering the 2026 race challenging the Democratic governor. Hochul.

One of the top Republicans in the House and one of the president Donald TrumpStefanik, Trump’s closest ally, represents a conservative-leaning district in upstate New York and has been considering a run for governor for months.

representative. Elise Stefanik calls New York mayoral candidate Zahran Mamdani a “jihadist”

Split photo shows Rep. Elise Stefanik, left, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, right. Stefanik has officially launched her 2026 gubernatorial campaign, setting up a high-profile race that could reshape politics in one of America’s bluest states. (John Lambarski/Getty Images; Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

“I Running for governor To make New York affordable and safe. We have witnessed decades of one-party rule led by Democrats. Stefanik said Friday morning on “Fox & Friends” that Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America.

“New York is the most unaffordable state in the country, with the highest taxes, the highest energy bills, and the highest utility bills. We also have a crime crisis because Kathy Hochul brought us failed bail reform and embraced Democratic police defunding,” Stefanik continued.

“And then this week… when we saw an angry, anti-Semitic, Hamas-supporting communist who wanted to raise taxes. And frankly, he barely won a majority of votes.” New York City “Voters, Kathy Hochul supported him and took a knee,” Stefanik added, referring to the New York City mayor-elect. Zahran Mamdanidemocratic socialist.

Stefanik is booed off stage as protesters chant “traitor” during a memorial event in New York state

Elise Stefanik launched her long-awaited Republican campaign for New York governor on Friday. (Getty Images)

Announcing her campaign the day before its launch, Stefanik said: “I am running for governor to bring a new generation of leadership to Albany to make New York affordable and safe for families across our great state.”

“Our campaign will unite Republicans, Democrats, and independents to fire Kathy Hochul once and for all to save New York,” she pledged in her statement and accompanying video.

Stefanik, a member of House Republican leadership, again charged that “Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America,” repeating a phrase she has used for months.

Stefanik is releasing a new book about college anti-Semitism as she eyes a run for New York governor

“People are looking for strong, common-sense leadership to curb this radical madness that we’re seeing in New York City with Zahran Mamdani who is a tax-raising, defund the police, anti-Semitic socialist,” Stefanik said in an interview Thursday on “The Story with Martha MacCallum.”

In her campaign launch announcement, she reiterated that Hochul “knelt down” to Mamdani.

Hochul has since taken to social media and interviews with CNN to attack Stefanik’s record as a “Trump Republican.”

On Friday, Hochul posted: “While I fight hard to lower costs for New York families, Elise Stefanik is screwing over New Yorkers and raising costs to please Trump. Stefanik will always put Trump first and you last.”

In another post on the same day, Hochul shared a clip from her appearance on CNN, Channel X.

“Elise Stefanik is more than just a Trump ally. She voted with him 100% this year,” Hochul wrote. “She has that closure. She’s aware of the fact that 3 million New Yorkers are trying to figure out how to feed their families. This is Stefanik’s silliness.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to Hochul’s office for comment regarding Adelson’s vocal support of Stefanik.

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Stefanik, who once criticized Trump during his first presidential run, has since become one of his strongest defenders in Congress.

Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.