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Welcome back to Team Elise's weekly newsletter! We send a weekly note to Elise's top supporters to update you on what she's working on in Capitol Hill and across NY-21!

Here are a few top Team Elise updates and stories we have been tracking for the past week!

Elise’s Questions About Criminal Illegals in New York Stun Kathy Hochul at House Oversight Hearing

Elise grilled the WORST GOVERNOR IN AMERICA, Kathy Hochul, at Thursday’s House Oversight Committee hearing, over her utterly disastrous, dangerous, and despicable sanctuary state policies that have wrecked the Great State of New York by shielding illegals from deportation via executive order.

Shockingly, Hochul DID NOT EVEN KNOW the names of the evil criminals in these high-profile attacks where illegals raped, molested, and burned New Yorkers alive.

Elise is committed to SAVE NEW YORK from Hochul’s reign of terror on our state and restore LAW & ORDER, hold criminal illegal aliens ACCOUNTABLE, and put the SAFETY of hardworking New Yorkers before the radical open-borders agenda!

Elise stated —

“So let's talk about Sebastian Zapeta-Calil. Do you know who that is?

I bet you're going to be familiar when I remind you. He found a sleeping woman on the subway, lit her on fire, and burnt her alive. This is in Kathy Hochul's New York, and as I'm sure you are aware, and I'll remind you, that ICE issued an order to detain this violent criminal, but that was rejected by New York officials due to sanctuary state laws.

Specifically, ICE was told not to detain this individual and he burned a woman alive on the New York subways in Kathy Hochuls's New York.

You are not advocating on behalf of these victims. You are shielding illegals, even in your opening statement you’re prioritizing putting illegals first. Rape of young girls, beatings of NYPD cops by illegals who are here under Kathy Hochul's failed policies, burning New Yorkers alive.

“They're horrific crimes that are committed on your watch. You signed this executive order on your first day in office. You signed it again and again this January. We deserve a governor who stands up for law-abiding New Yorkers, doesn't put illegals first, but puts New Yorkers first.

I'm standing up for New Yorkers. Rather than addressing the illegals in New York, you are prioritizing your Far Left sanctuary state policies, which you put in place with executive orders, instead of advocating for victims - a five-year-old who was raped - No amount of words is going to clean up your failed record, and these horrific crimes committed in a sanctuary state that you created.”

Watch Elise’s full questioning of Hochul here.

Elise Stands With Israel

Elise issued the following statement in unwavering support of America’s strongest ally in the Middle East, as they defend themselves against Iran’s escalating aggression to their national security.

Elise stated –

“The U.S. stands strongly with our ally and partner Israel.

Iran, the world’s largest sponsor of terror, must NEVER achieve nuclear weapons capability. The Iranian terror regime has proven that it can never be trusted.

May God Bless Israel & the brave IAF soldiers as they protect their national security and the world’s safety.

I know President Trump’s top priority is protecting the American people, our brave U.S. service members, and our national security by ensuring the full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program to ensure they can never develop a nuclear weapon.”

See more here on X.

Elise Joins GOP Leaders in Albany at State Capitol

Elise joined the New York State GOP Senate and Assembly Conferences this week to stand united against the failed policies of the WORST GOVERNOR in America, Kathy Hochul, and to chart a path forward to SAVE NEW YORK by restoring pro-growth economic policies, cutting job-killing regulations, supporting small businesses, and reversing the Far Left’s attacks on free enterprise.

Elise stated –

“ I am honored to join Leader Ortt and Leader Barclay to meet with the Republican Senate and Assembly Conferences for the last week of the legislative session. Another year, another failed, radical, reckless agenda and legislative session in New York State passed by single Party Democrat rule led by the worst Governor in America Kathy Hochul.

Kathy Hochul and Far Left NY Democrats have once again put New York LAST with a massive, bloated $254 billion budget that is anti-worker, anti-family, anti-farm, anti-small business, and anti-law enforcement. From job-killing regulations proposed like the insane 700-cow farm cap to pro-criminal policies that make our streets, communities, and campuses less safe, this legislative session continues New York down the path to catastrophe further exacerbating the affordability crisis and crime crisis.

Kathy Hochul’s radical Far Left Democrat agenda is driving businesses and hardworking families out of the state. Enough is enough. New Yorkers deserve better. It is time for new leadership in New York State.

Please know that New York Republicans are listening to you. We hear you, the people of New York. We hear you loudly and clearly: it is time for new leadership to save our state."

Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt stated:

“Albany Democrats are wrapping up another session with record spending, radical mandates, and zero results for struggling New Yorkers. Governor Hochul’s $254 billion budget does nothing to lower costs, but everything to drive up energy bills, grocery prices, and the cost of doing business.

The message from Albany is clear: if you’re a criminal or a bureaucrat, you’re protected; if you’re a hardworking taxpayer, you’re on your own. Senate Republicans are fighting for a better path, one that puts law-abiding New Yorkers first, restores public safety, and makes this state affordable again?”

Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay stated:

“We’re approaching the end of another legislative session and unfortunately the major issues plaguing New York will persist for another year. Albany’s One-Party Rule has failed to deliver on opportunities to lower the cost of living, address public safety, or govern with any semblance of transparency, efficiency and public participation. Democrats’ signature achievement in 2025 was passing an astronomical $254 billion budget, to be paid on the backs of already-overburdened taxpayers.

New York has a dwindling population and stagnant economy because Democrats refuse to change course. Instead of solutions, they prefer the status quo, and that’s a disservice to the people of the Empire State."

Watch Elise’s speech on Rumble.

Elise Joins Langworthy for “Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act”

Elise joined Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY) to introduce the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act. As the House companion to Senator Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) bill, this legislation would block federal funding for sanctuary jurisdictions that prohibit local law enforcement authorities from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

Elise knows that we need to SAVE NEW YORK and make sure that our cities are safe for families to live, work, and thrive without the threat of criminal ILLEGAL aliens being shielded by radical sanctuary policies.

Elise stated –

“Sanctuary cities in New York State shield criminal illegals while hurting law-abiding citizens. Under the failed Far Left Democrat leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, sanctuary cities incentivize illegal migration into New York State overrunning social services, drive up housing costs, and reduce wages."

Congressman Langworthy stated –

“The violence we are seeing happen in LA right now is a cautionary tale for New York, another sanctuary state catering to criminal illegal immigrants and left-wing extremists.

State and local governments MUST comply with federal immigration enforcement efforts, and if they don’t, the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act would withhold federal financial assistance from them. We must stand with our heroic ICE officers, our men and women in blue, and with the American people who cry out for safety and common sense in their local governments.”

Read more here.

ELISE OP-ED: New York Post

In a New York Post op-ed, Elise slams Kathy Hochul for staying silent as Albany Democrats pass a dangerous assisted suicide bill, which is simply a betrayal of vulnerable New Yorkers and promotes a culture of death.

Elise urges Hochul to veto this destructive bill, and instead focus on increasing the quality of our mental health services and strengthen the support systems for New Yorkers.

Elise stated –

“Last month, Gov. Kathy Hochul desperately attacked Republicans for our budget bill that aims to rein in wasteful and fraudulent federal spending. ‘I believe that we should try to prevent our constituents from dying,’ she declared.

Now, just two weeks later, New Yorkers have proof that these words from Hochul’s lips are a cruel lie.

My heart shatters for our state: Hochul’s gutless silence on the so-called assisted suicide bill passed by Albany’s far-left Democrats isn’t just cowardice, it’s a betrayal of every New Yorker clinging to hope, a dagger in the backs of the vulnerable she swore to protect.

The last day of this year’s legislative session culminated when New York State Senate Democrats forced through a despicable measure, in a 35-27 vote, empowering doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to the terminally ill.

Hochul has the power to veto this moral travesty. She could champion life by investing in palliative care that wraps the suffering in dignity and love.

Instead, her silence screams surrender.

I won’t stay silent. My heart burns for the mother praying for one more day with her child, for the disabled New Yorker fighting for respect, for every soul this bill would discard.

New York needs real leadership — robust palliative care programs, accessible mental health services, and dignified support for the disabled — not a state-encouraged push toward the grave.

In 2026, New Yorkers will reject this failed governor at the ballot box and restore principled leadership that cherishes every life.

Kathy Hochul, the clock is ticking. Veto this bill or you’ll be remembered as the governor who truly let hope die.

New Yorkers are watching — and we won’t forget.”

Read the New York Post article here.

Elise Co-Sponsors Northern Border Security and Staffing Reform Act to Protect Upstate New York

Elise, as a member of the Northern Border Caucus and the Northern Border Security Caucus, joined Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) and Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) in introducing the Northern Border Security and Staffing Reform Act to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to update the outdated Northern Border Threat Analysis and address critical staffing shortages at northern ports of entry where officer retirements, recruitment challenges, and rising national security threats demand urgent and sustained attention.

Elise stated –

“The southern border might receive more media attention, but our northern border is essential to Upstate New York and North Country residents from invasion.

I am working with DHS to update the Northern Border Threat Analysis and prioritize the staffing challenges that have left our state vulnerable to illegal migration including terrorists, drug traffickers, and gang members.”