Elise Marie Stefanik born July 2, 1984 is an American politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for New York’s 21st congressional district. As of 2021, she holds the position of chair of the House Republican Conference, making her the fourth-ranking Republican in the House. Stefanik’s district spans much of the North Country and Adirondack Mountains, including parts of the Capital District and the outer suburbs of Utica. When elected in 2014, she became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress at the age of 30, and the first woman to represent her district. Initially considered a moderate conservative, Stefanik has shifted to the right over time, aligning herself with President Donald Trump.
Elise Stefanik Biography 2025
She strongly opposed Trump’s first impeachment in 2019 and supported his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. She was also vocal in backing Trump during the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, claiming that Speaker Nancy Pelosi was responsible for the incident. In May 2021, after Liz Cheney was removed from her leadership position, Stefanik was elected chair of the House Republican Conference. Stefanik garnered national attention in December 2023 for her sharp questioning of university presidents on antisemitism during a U.S. congressional hearing, which led to the resignation of University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill. In November 2025, reports surfaced that Donald Trump had offered her the role of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
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Elise Stefanik Details
Born
Elise Marie Stefanik
July 2, 1984 (age 40)
Albany, New York, U.S.
Political party
Republican
Spouse
Matthew Manda
(m. 2017)
Children
1
Education
Harvard University (BA)
Website
House website
Elise Stefanik Early Life
Stefanik was born in Albany, New York, to Melanie and Kenneth Stefanik. She has stated that her father is of Czech descent, while her mother is of Italian ancestry. However, genealogical records indicate her father’s family is actually from the Polish region of Galicia. Her parents own a wholesale plywood business, Premium Plywood Products, in Guilderland Center, New York.
At the age of 14, Stefanik was featured in a Times Union article, where she expressed her support for U.S. Senator Al D’Amato and his Republican views. Her interest in public service grew following the September 11 attacks. She graduated from the Albany Academy for Girls and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Harvard College in 2006. At Harvard, she served as vice president of the Harvard Institute of Politics and received an honorable mention for the Women’s Leadership Award for her leadership and contributions to advancing women’s issues.
Vice president of the Harvard Institute of Politics
Awards at Harvard
Honorable Mention, Women’s Leadership Award
Early Career
Position
Details
George W. Bush Administration
Staff member for U.S. Domestic Policy Council
White House Office
Worked in the office of White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten
Blog
Founder of American Maggie, a platform for conservative women
Republican Platform
Contributed to 2012 Republican platform preparation
Tim Pawlenty Campaign
Director of new media for Pawlenty’s presidential exploratory committee
Debate Preparation
Managed Paul Ryan’s presidential debate preparations
Election History
Election Year
Opponent
Result
2014
Matt Doheny, Aaron Woolf
Elected with 55% of the vote
2016
Mike Derrick
Won with 66% of the vote
2018
Tedra Cobb
Reelected with 56% of the vote
2020
Tedra Cobb
Won with 59% of the vote
2022
Matt Castelli
Won with 59.2% of the vote
Tenure and Key Roles
Position
Details
House Armed Services Committee
Appointed in 2015, Vice Chair of Subcommittee on Readiness
Tuesday Group
Co-chair in 2017, a group of moderate Republicans
NRCC Recruitment
Led recruitment for Republican women in 2018
E-PAC
Founded Elevate PAC in 2018, supporting Republican women
Committee Assignments
Armed Services, Education and Workforce, Intelligence
Political Positions
Issue
Position
Trump Impeachment
Strongly opposed the impeachment of Donald Trump in 2019
2020 Election
Supported Trump’s efforts to overturn the election results
January 6 Capitol Attack
Claimed Nancy Pelosi was responsible for the attack
Antisemitism Hearing
Questioned university presidents on antisemitism in 2023
Foreign Policy
Supports strong U.S. military presence and Israel
Party Leadership Campaign
Event
Details
May 2021
Elected House Republican Conference Chair after Liz Cheney’s removal
Trump Endorsement
Received Trump’s endorsement for conference chair
Leadership Style
Focus on unifying Republicans behind Trump and his agenda
Personal Life
Detail
Information
Married
Matthew Manda, 2017
Child
Samuel Albritton, born 2021
Residence
Schuylerville, near Saratoga Springs, NY
Hobbies/Interests
Advocacy for Republican women in politics, public service
Hearing on Antisemitism
Event
Details
Hearing Focus
Antisemitism at universities, questioning university presidents
University Presidents
Presidents from Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania
Impact
Resignation of UPenn President Liz Magill
Stefanik’s Role
Played key role in questioning and drawing national attention
Investigation
House committee launched an investigation into campus climate
Political and Leadership Influence
Area
Details
Influence within GOP
Strong supporter of Trump, leader of the Republican Conference
Women in Politics
Advocates for increased Republican women in Congress, through E-PAC
Support for Israel
Advocate for strong U.S.-Israel ties and policies
Defense and National Security
Focus on national security and military funding
Elise Stefanik Net Worth
Elise Stefanik’s net worth was around $300K.
Elise Stefanik Summary
Elise Stefanik, the U.S. Representative from New York’s 21st district, is a rising political leader within the Republican Party. Serving as the Chair of the House Republican Conference, she is the fourth-ranking member of the House GOP. Stefanik’s career has been marked by her strong alignment with former President Donald Trump, as well as her rise to prominence in Republican politics. Initially elected at 30, Stefanik made history as the youngest woman ever elected to Congress at the time. Her tenure has included significant political battles, including her support for Trump during impeachment proceedings and her efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election. With her leadership in the House GOP, Stefanik continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Republican policy and ideology.
