House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., listens as President Donald Trump speaks at the House Republicans Conference meeting. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Adelson went on to describe Stefanik as "a great leader," crediting her for defending "the Jewish people, Israel and the Free World."
"Thank you for continuing to be what you are — a brave lady," Adelson said. "I send to you from here a hug for all your achievements, and I hope to visit you in the office of New York governor next year after the election."
Adelson, the majority owner of Las Vegas Sands and a philanthropist and physician whose net worth is estimated in the $30 billion-plus range, has been a prominent Republican mega-donor and backed the pro-Trump super PAC Preserve America in multiple election cycles.
KEY TRUMP ALLY JUMPS INTO NEW YORK GOVERNOR'S RACE DAYS AFTER SHOCKING MAMDANI MAYORAL VICTORY
Split image shows Rep. Elise Stefanik, left, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, right. Stefanik officially launched her 2026 campaign for governor, setting up a high-profile race that could reshape politics in one of America’s bluest states. (John Lamparski/Getty Images; Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
"I'm running for governor to make New York affordable and safe. We have seen decades of single-party rule led by Democrats. And Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America," Stefanik said Friday morning on "Fox & Friends."
"New York is the most unaffordable state in the nation, with the highest taxes, the highest energy bills, the highest utility bills. We also have a crime crisis because Kathy Hochul has brought us failed bail reform and has embraced the defund the police Democrats," Stefanik continued.
"And after this week… when we saw a raging anti-Semite pro-Hamas communist who wants to raise taxes. And frankly, he barely won the majority of New York City voters, Kathy Hochul endorsed him and bent the knee," Stefanik added, referencing New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist.
STEFANIK BOOED OFFSTAGE AS PROTESTERS CHANT 'TRAITOR' DURING UPSTATE NEW YORK MEMORIAL EVENT
Elise Stefanik launched her long-anticipated Republican campaign for New York governor on Friday. (Getty Images)
When announcing her campaign the day before she launched it, Stefanik said, "I am running for Governor to bring a new generation of leadership to Albany to make New York affordable and safe for families all across our great state."
"Our campaign will unify Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to fire Kathy Hochul once and for all to save New York," she pledged in her statement and accompanying video.
Stefanik, a member of the House Republican leadership, again charged that "Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America," repeating a line that she's used for months.
STEFANIK TO RELEASE NEW BOOK ON COLLEGE ANTISEMITISM AS SHE EYES BID FOR NY GOVERNOR
"People are looking for strong, commonsense leadership to be a check on this radical insanity that we’re seeing play out in New York City with Zohran Mamdani as a tax-hiking, defund the police, antisemite socialist," Stefanik said in an interview Thursday on "The Story with Martha MacCallum."
And in her campaign launch announcement, she reiterated that Hochul "bent the knee" to Mamdani.
Hochul has since turned to social media and interviews with CNN to attack Stefanik’s record of being a "Trump Republican."
On Friday, Hochul posted, "While I’m fighting like hell to lower costs for New York families, Elise Stefanik is screwing over New Yorkers and jacking up costs to please Trump. Stefanik will always put Trump first and you last."
In another post that same day, Hochul shared a clip from her appearance on CNN, on X.
"Elise Stefanik is more than just Trump’s ally. She’s voted with him 100% of the time this year," Hochul wrote. "She owns this shutdown. She owns the fact that 3 million New Yorkers are trying to figure out how to feed their families. That’s Sellout Stefanik."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Hochul’s office for a comment regarding Adelson’s voice support for Stefanik.
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Stefanik, who once criticized Trump during his first presidential run, has since become one of his staunchest defenders in Congress.
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/billionaire-miriam-adelson-voices-support-stefaniks-new-york-governor-campaign-launch