House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) should run for governor, a sign Democrats are confident they will retain the governorship in New York. 

“Here’s my political advice for Elise Stefanik: Run, Elise, run,” Jeffries told reporters Thursday on Capitol Hill.

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Stefanik had been tapped to serve in the Trump administration as U.N. ambassador, but President Donald Trump later withdrew her nomination after concerns grew about the slim Republican majority in the House and if her district would flip blue in a special election. Stefanik had been the fourth-ranking House Republican but is no longer in leadership. 

The New York Republican has reportedly been weighing a run for governor after her nomination was yanked. 

Stefanik had a run-in with Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) on Thursday during a hearing on sanctuary state and city policies before the House Oversight Committee. Stefanik is not a member of the committee but dropped by and questioned the New York governor.

“They’re horrific crimes that are committed on your watch. You signed this executive order on your first day in office,” she said. “We deserve a governor who stands up for New Yorkers, who doesn’t put illegals first but actually puts New Yorkers first.” 

“Rather than going after the viral moment, I suggest you look at the facts,” Hochul said back. “Your representation of the facts is absolutely false.”

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In the New York gubernatorial race next year, Hochul is facing a challenge from her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado.

New York has not elected a Republican governor since 2002, when former Republican Gov. George Pataki won a second term.