Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik launched a New York governor bid Friday, unveiling a video centered on affordability and accusing Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul of making the state "the most unaffordable," declaring "the Empire State has fallen." The spot also targets Hochul's backing of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani; it claims she "cozied up to a defund-the-police, tax-hiking, antisemitic Communist." A close Trump ally who omitted him from the launch, Stefanik enters the GOP primary with more than $13 million and former Trump advisers, a heavy favorite after Rep. Mike Lawler stays in Congress.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.