With word that Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has been offered the role of United Nations ambassador by President-elect Donald Trump, Assemblyman Chris Tague said Monday he’s considering a run for her seat.
Congresswoman Stefanik, who like Assemblyman Tague, was re-elected last Tuesday would need to be confirmed by the United States Senate, before resigning and opening up her seat.
Under New York State law, Governor Kathy Hochul would have have 10 days to call a special election, though Assemblyman Tague, who’s also Schoharie County GOP chair, said it’s likely the election wouldn’t be held until late April or even June.
Should he run–he’s still deciding–and win, Governor Hochul would then have to set a special election for his 102nd Assembly seat.
Assemblyman Tague said he expects to make a decision on running within the next two or three weeks, but as soon as the word of Congresswoman Stefanik’s nomination broke Saturday, it was on his radar.
Right now, he said, he’s reaching out to other county chairs.
If he wins, he said, he would be the first member of Congress from Schoharie County.
“It’s very exciting. I’m very proud of Elise,” Assemblyman Tague said. “To see her on the national stage like this...she’s put us on the map.
“I’ve already had calls asking me to run. I’m seriously considering it. Whoever runs, they’re going to have to decide right away. There’s no time to let the grass grow under your feet.”
Congresswoman Stefanik was elected to represent the 21st Congressional District in 2014; she became Schoharie County’s congresswoman through redistricting in 2022.
Schoharie County is on the southernmost edge off the 21st, which extends into the North Country and includes Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Hamilton, Essex, Warren, Washington, Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, and Schoharie Counties and parts of Jefferson, Rensselaer, and Otsego Counties.
Assemblyman Tague won his own seat in a special election in April 2018 after Pete Lopez resigned to take a job with the EPA; he won a full term in November 2018. Before that, he was Schoharie supervisor.
Assemblyman Tague said he believes Governor Hochul will act quickly to call the special election, in part because she’s done so in the past and in part because no one wants to leave the 21st District unrepresented.
Assemblyman Tague said he and Congresswoman Stefanik have a good working relationship, especially when it comes to rural issues like getting whole milk back into schools.
“I’ve been in a special election before,” he said. “I know what it entails. I actually live in the district and I still have a lot of my campaign infrastructure in place. People who know me know the work I’ve done.”
He acknowledges the 21st Congressional District is big, but said he’s experienced there too.
My Assembly district…it’s three hours from one end to the other,” he said; the 102nd includes all of Greene and Schoharie Counties, along with parts of Delaware, Albany, Otsego, and Ulster Counties.
If he wins, Assemblyman Tague’s already got his tag line ready: From the cow pastures to the halls of Congress.