Super PAC supporting Elise Stefanik for governor registers with state

An independent expenditure committee with plans to back a gubernatorial bid from Rep. Elise Stefanik was registered with the state Board of Elections on Tuesday.

“Strong and Safe New York Inc.” was registered by Richard St. Paul and has an address in White Plains, according to the filing with the BOE. The Super PAC is forbidden from coordinating with a potential Stefanik campaign for governor, but can essentially raise unlimited funds in support of her bid.

Stefanik, an upstate Republican, has been toying with the idea of challenging incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul for months, but the head of the New York GOP said she a formal campaign declaration wouldn’t come until after the 2025 elections. This summer, Stefanik launched a political action committee to support local Republican candidates as a way “to build the groundwork for 2026,” according to the New York Post.

Outside spending played a big role in the relative success of Republican Lee Zeldin’s bid for governor four years ago, when he performed better than any GOP gubernatorial candidate since 2002. That Super PAC had the support of cosmetics heir Ron Lauder, but he doesn’t appear connected to this new effort supporting Stefanik, based on who registered the committee.

St. Paul did not immediately respond to a request for comment left with his place of employment. It is not immediately clear what resources have been invested into this new committee.