Quick Facts about Elsie Stefanik: Is She Married, Ethnicity, Net Worth, and Run for NY Governor

Elise Stefanik is currently a U.S. representative for New York's 21st congressional district since 2015. Since her election in 2014, Stefanik became a rising star in the Republican Party and has drawn significant attention for her loyal backing of President Donald Trump as well as her rapid ascent to House Republican Conference Chair.

Her career trajectory has been accompanied by public interest in her life outside of the halls of Congress, her finances, political views and personal history, alongside her recent announcement on her run for New York governor.

Stefanik was initially elected as the youngest woman in history to be elected to Congress at age 30 in 2014. She was also the first woman to occupy her House seat. Stefanik served as Chair of the House Republican Conference from May 2021 until January 2025.

Early Life and Family

• Elise Stefanik was born on 2 July 1984 in Albany, New York to Ken and Melanie Stefanik. According to FamousDC, her father's ancestry is Czech, while her mother is of Italian descent.
• She is married to Matthew Manda, whom she married on 19 August 2017, in Saratoga Springs, New York. Her husband works in communications and public affairs.
• The couple has a son, born in 2021, which according to AP News, is named Sam. They live in upstate New York, keeping private details about family life despite her growing political prominence.
• In terms of education, she graduated from Albany Academy for Girls in 2002 and earned her bachelor's degree in Government from Harvard University. She also attended the Naval War College.
• According to a report by Yahoo!News UK, Stefanik has often mentioned how her family started humbly with their small plywood business.
• She was the first person in her family to graduate from college. She started her career in public service during the George W. Bush administration, working at the Domestic Policy Council and Chief of Staff's Office from 2006 to 2009.

Stefanik's Finances

As for her finances, Stefanik's net worth has been the subject of some speculation due to constant variations and changes.

• According to OpenSecrets, an estimate based on Stefanik's congressional financial disclosures put her net worth at around $282,000 in 2018.
• In 2025, Finbold reports that an initial source claims her net worth to be of $2 million, however, based on her 2023 financial disclosure report, her net worth was actually between $244,993 and $414,997.
• Other online sites such as WeGotThisCovered have suggested that she could have higher figures than these, estimating up to $2 million in total wealth, but was adjusted to lower amounts to become relatable.
• As of 2025, her political campaign committees have reported significant cash on hand, with one filing showing approximately $10,903,158.10 in ending cash. Her annual congressional salary is $174,000.

Key Political Views and Controversies

Stefanik was initially elected as a moderate Republican but has since moved considerably towards the right, aligning herself with the MAGA movement and calling herself 'ultra-MAGA.' She became one of Trump's fiercest defenders during his 2019 impeachment hearings.

Her key policy positions include:

• National Security: Serving as a senior member on the House Armed Services Committee, she focuses on issues like military readiness, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
• Economic Policy: She advocates for reducing tax and regulatory burdens on small businesses and pursuing all-of-the-above energy policies.
• Combating Antisemitism: She gained national attention in December 2023 for her intense questioning of university presidents regarding antisemitism on college campuses, which contributed to the resignation of the president of the University of Pennsylvania.
• Immigration: She supports strengthening America's immigration system and border security.
• Abortion and Guns: She is generally conservative on social issues, opposing government regulation and abortion, and supporting private gun ownership.

Stefanik was one of 147 House Republicans who voted against certifying President-elect Joe Biden's electoral victory in 2021, and she publicly backed Trump's claims of voter fraud.

In January 2025, President Trump nominated Stefanik to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, but the nomination was withdrawn in March 2025 due to concerns about the thin Republican majority in the House.

Run For New York Governor

On Friday, 7 November, Stefanik formally declared her candidacy for Governor of New York in the 2026 election. In her campaign launch video, Stefanik describes New York as a place 'in ashes' due to high cost of living and being unsafe.

According to AP News, Stefanik's goal is to make New York 'affordable and safe,' positioning herself as a person who will champion every family across the state. Her campaign focuses heavily on affordability, attacking Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul's leadership for New York being the 'most unaffordable state in the nation' with the highest taxes and energy bills.

Stefanik has sought to tie Hochul to the democratic socialist mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, whom Stefanik has called a 'pro-Hamas, Defund the Police, Tax Hiking, Antisemite Jihadist Communist.'