Which New York Republicans are endorsing Trump?

Republican members of Congress from New York have been slow to call sides in the 2024 presidential primary, even as it has become apparent that former President Donald Trump is likely to once again win the Republican presidential nomination. Recently, though, many Republicans from New York have come out of the woodwork to support the former president. 

Going into Super Tuesday, Donald Trump has an overwhelming lead in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. So far, he has won 273 delegates – over 200 more than former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, his only remaining competitor in the race. Despite his multiple criminal and civil cases, his MAGA support in New York has not wavered.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, who represents the 21st congressional district and serves as chair of the House Republican Conference, has been one of Trump's biggest allies in New York from the very beginning. She endorsed his reelection bid way back in November 2022, a few days before he formally launched his 2024 campaign. 

Although Stefanik was originally elected as a moderate in 2014, she’s been all in on Trump for some time. She served on his defense team during his 2019 impeachment case and has backed his efforts to overturn President Joe Biden’s electoral victory in 2020. Last month, Stefanik spoke at CPAC, where she was met with lots of praise from Trump supporters. Some claim her as his successor. Trump appears satisfied with Stefanik’s loyalty, and rumors are now circulating that Stefanik is on Trump’s shortlist for vice president.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, the Staten Island congresswoman, did not formally endorse Trump until January, though she has been an outspoken supporter of the former president. She recently slammed Mazi Pilip, who lost a special election on Long Island, for not seeking Trump’s endorsement. She also defended Trump in December when he said that immigrants were “poisoning the blood of the country.” After the former president was criticized for echoing Nazi rhetoric, Malliotakis claimed that Trump was just referencing Democratic immigration policies.

Reps. Nick LaLota, Nick Langworthy, Claudia Tenney, and Brandon Williams all waited until January to voice their endorsements of Trump. The endorsements rolled in as Trump began to win Republican primaries. Williams, the central New York congressman, wrote on X, “Our country is under immense pressure – inflation, chaos at the border, sanctuary cities, fentanyl, cashless bail, crime, energy costs – we can’t endure 4 more years of Progressive fantasies, we need a Republican in the White House” after the GOP New Hampshire win. Tenney also nominated the former president for the Nobel Peace Prize in January, citing his creation of the Abraham Accords.

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, the retired police detective-turned-politician, endorsed Trump in late February during a Nassau GOP event.

However, not all Republicans are readily endorsing Trump. Rep. Marc Molinaro has yet to officially endorse anyone for president. He has said that he does not want to get involved with the politics surrounding presidential primaries. But Molinaro did say that he would support Trump if he won the Republican nomination.

Reps. Mike Lawler and Andrew Garbarino have not yet said who they will support in the Republican presidential primary, and their offices did not respond to requests for comment from City & State.

“It’s very likely they all will at some point,” said Bill O’Reilly, a Republican political consultant, when asked whether Republican elected officials would endorse Trump. “They weren't sure how January 6 would play out over time. And there were other candidates out there…they held their endorsement until they saw where things were going.”

O’Reilly said that Republicans in swing districts, like Molinaro, will likely play it safe and just say that they will support the Republican party’s choice. 

“Voters understand that you're expected to choose the candidate if you are a part of the political system... if you don't back them, you're basically giving up, you're basically quitting the party,” he said.