By Liz Goodwin, Theodoric Meyer · The Washington Post (c) 2025
The White House has pulled the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York) as ambassador to the United Nations, after President Donald Trump expressed concern that Republicans could lose the red seat she represents in a special election.
“With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat,” President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will stay in Congress, rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People.”
Trump added that he hoped Stefanik could rejoin the administration “in the future.”
The move is an acknowledgment that Republicans are nervous about their ability to pass a sweeping tax overhaul with their razor-thin majority this year. They also fear losing seats in an upcoming slate of special elections, at a time when polling and fundraising have suggested that the energy is on the Democrats’ side.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) praised Stefanik for her “selfless decision” to stay in the House.
“It is well known Republicans have a razor-thin House majority, and Elise’s agreement to withdraw her nomination will allow us to keep one of the toughest, most resolute members of our Conference in place to help drive forward President Trump’s America First policies,” Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson said he would invite her to rejoin leadership “immediately,” although it is not yet clear what position he will offer her. Her old leadership seat, the No. 4 position, is filled. Johnson could create a new role specifically for Stefanik.
Stefanik, a loyal Trump ally who was expected to be easily confirmed as the ambassador to the United Nations, recently gave up her leadership position in anticipation of leaving the House. CBS News first reported on her likely withdrawal from the post.
Trump’s decision to pull Stefanik’s nomination will give Republicans slightly more breathing room in the House, where Republicans can afford only two defections on any vote if all lawmakers are voting. There are currently 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats, after the recent death of two Democratic members.
Trump plucked only one other representative to serve in his Cabinet, Michael Waltz, who is his national security adviser. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) resigned his seat after Trump nominated him to be attorney general. (Trump later withdrew Gaetz’s nomination.) The special election to fill those seats is next week, and Republicans have expressed concern that Democratic candidates have been outraising them in those contests in ruby red districts.
The move also spares Republicans a special election to fill Stefanik’s seat in an Upstate New York district. Trump carried the district by about 16 points in 2020 – a margin that could make the seat competitive in a special election under ideal conditions for Democrats. Former Democratic congressman Conor Lamb won a special election in 2018, for instance, in a Pennsylvania seat Trump had carried by nearly 20 points.
Dairy farmer Blake Gendebien is running for the seat on the Democratic ticket and has already raised more than $2 million, according to his campaign.
Stefanik did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Marianna Sotomayor contributed to this report.