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 2024
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 2024, reports surfaced that Donald Trump had offered her the role of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Elise Stefanik Details
| Born | Elise Marie Stefanik July 2, 1984 (age 40)
Albany, New York, U.S. |
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| Political party | Republican |
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| Spouse | |
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| Children | 1 |
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| Education | Harvard University (BA) |
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| Website | House website |
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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.
Elise Stefanik Bio
Detail | Information |
Birthdate | July 2, 1984 |
Birthplace | Albany, New York, U.S. |
Parents | Melanie and Kenneth Stefanik |
Father’s Ethnicity | Czech descent (claimed); Polish ancestry (genealogical record) |
Mother’s Ethnicity | Italian ancestry |
High School | Albany Academy for Girls |
College | Harvard College |
Degree | Bachelor of Arts in Government, 2006 |
Leadership at Harvard | 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.
