Trump's Mamdani embrace complicates Elise Stefanik's path to governor

President Donald Trump's astonishingly chummy Oval Office meeting with New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani could not have come at a worse time for Rep. Elise Stefanik.

The New York Republican is mounting an uphill gubernatorial bid in a deep blue state, building her campaign on the argument that Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is the nation's worst chief executive — and tying Hochul to the 34-year-old democratic socialist who will soon lead New York City.