Who is Elise Stefanik: Learn more about New York's 21st Congressional District representative

New York Rep. Elise Stefanik has gotten widespread attention as a longtime supporter of President Donald Trump and for her role as the highest-ranking woman in congressional GOP leadership. But who is Stefanik, and what are some of her views? We've compiled some fast facts about the congresswoman.Congressional DistrictElise Stefanik is a Republican representing New York's 21st Congressional District. Her district comprises the area commonly known as The North Country, which includes the counties of Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Hamilton, Essex, Warren, Washington, Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Schoharie, and parts of Jefferson, Rensselaer, and Otsego Counties, according to Stefanik's official website.The district borders both Vermont and Canada and also includes the Adirondack Park.Elise Stefanik is currently in her fifth term representing NY-21.History and Personal LifeElise Stefanik was born in Albany on July 2, 1984. The 39-year-old Congresswoman currently serves as the House Republican conference chair.She was first elected to office in 2014 and, at the time, was the youngest woman ever elected to Congress in United States history, according to her website.Before being elected to public office, Stefanik worked at her family's small business in Essex County, NY. She graduated with Honors from Harvard University in 2006 and went on to work in the West Wing of the White House on President George W. Bush's Domestic Policy Council staff and the chief of staff’s office from 2006 to 2009.She currently lives in Schuylerville with her husband, Matt and their son Sam.Viewpoints and BeliefsStefanik, who is a staunch Trump supporter, regularly backs the former president on issues like border control and immigration. She has also defended Trump's controversial remarks about those arrested for the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.In a recent interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press," Stefanik said she would not commit to certifying the 2024 election results. She has also boosted Trump's baseless claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.In October, Stefanik publicly supported efforts to keep then-Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy in his role, saying " is tireless. He has that uniquely American grit," and "Now more than ever, the Republicans must unify. The stakes are too high."Relationship with TrumpAs a self-proclaimed "strong supporter" of Donald Trump, Stefanik has appeared alongside the former president on numerous occasions. In 2018, Stefanik formally invited Trump to return to the North Country for a tour of Fort Drum following his 2016 campaign rally at the Crete Civic Center.During a recent dinner with Mar-a-Lago members in December, Trump was asked what he thought of Stefanik as a possible choice for vice president, to which he allegedly responded, "She's a killer," according to an NBC News story from January.Claudine Gay ControversyStefanik made national headlines during a recent controversy with former Harvard President Claudine Gay, who resigned from her post earlier this month after receiving widespread criticism for her testimony at a congressional hearing on antisemitism.An interaction between Stefanik, a Harvard alumnus, and Gay went viral in December after Gay appeared to sidestep a question about whether students who call for the genocide of Jews are in violation of the campus code of conduct, according to NBC News. Gay was called before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce along with the presidents of the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to testify about how their administrations responded to the rise in antisemitism after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel, NBC News said.Political backlash and move to censureWhile her supporters have praised her for taking a hardline stance alongside former president Trump, Stefanik has drawn criticism from North Country Democrats for her extremist viewpoints. She was the subject of a protest in October 2022 by a group calling themselves "The Light Brigade" for her refusal to debate then-Democratic opponent Matt Castelli leading up to the election.She has also been criticized by her political opponents in Washington, with Rep. Dan Goldman of New York's 20th District introducing a resolution to censor the congresswoman for her comments referring to capitol rioters from the Jan. 6 insurrection as "hostages."Continuing coverage of Elise Stefanik

NEW YORK —

New York Rep. Elise Stefanik has gotten widespread attention as a longtime supporter of President Donald Trump and for her role as the highest-ranking woman in congressional GOP leadership.

But who is Stefanik, and what are some of her views? We've compiled some fast facts about the congresswoman.

Congressional District

Elise Stefanik is a Republican representing New York's 21st Congressional District. Her district comprises the area commonly known as The North Country, which includes the counties of Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Hamilton, Essex, Warren, Washington, Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Schoharie, and parts of Jefferson, Rensselaer, and Otsego Counties, according to Stefanik's official website.

The district borders both Vermont and Canada and also includes the Adirondack Park.

Elise Stefanik is currently in her fifth term representing NY-21.

History and Personal Life

Elise Stefanik was born in Albany on July 2, 1984. The 39-year-old Congresswoman currently serves as the House Republican conference chair.

She was first elected to office in 2014 and, at the time, was the youngest woman ever elected to Congress in United States history, according to her website.

Before being elected to public office, Stefanik worked at her family's small business in Essex County, NY. She graduated with Honors from Harvard University in 2006 and went on to work in the West Wing of the White House on President George W. Bush's Domestic Policy Council staff and the chief of staff’s office from 2006 to 2009.

She currently lives in Schuylerville with her husband, Matt and their son Sam.

Viewpoints and Beliefs

Stefanik, who is a staunch Trump supporter, regularly backs the former president on issues like border control and immigration. She has also defended Trump's controversial remarks about those arrested for the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

In a recent interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press," Stefanik said she would not commit to certifying the 2024 election results. She has also boosted Trump's baseless claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.

In October, Stefanik publicly supported efforts to keep then-Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy in his role, saying "[McCarthy] is tireless. He has that uniquely American grit," and "Now more than ever, the Republicans must unify. The stakes are too high."

Relationship with Trump

As a self-proclaimed "strong supporter" of Donald Trump, Stefanik has appeared alongside the former president on numerous occasions. In 2018, Stefanik formally invited Trump to return to the North Country for a tour of Fort Drum following his 2016 campaign rally at the Crete Civic Center.

During a recent dinner with Mar-a-Lago members in December, Trump was asked what he thought of Stefanik as a possible choice for vice president, to which he allegedly responded, "She's a killer," according to an NBC News story from January.

Claudine Gay Controversy

Stefanik made national headlines during a recent controversy with former Harvard President Claudine Gay, who resigned from her post earlier this month after receiving widespread criticism for her testimony at a congressional hearing on antisemitism.

An interaction between Stefanik, a Harvard alumnus, and Gay went viral in December after Gay appeared to sidestep a question about whether students who call for the genocide of Jews are in violation of the campus code of conduct, according to NBC News.

Gay was called before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce along with the presidents of the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to testify about how their administrations responded to the rise in antisemitism after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel, NBC News said.

Political backlash and move to censure

While her supporters have praised her for taking a hardline stance alongside former president Trump, Stefanik has drawn criticism from North Country Democrats for her extremist viewpoints.

She was the subject of a protest in October 2022 by a group calling themselves "The Light Brigade" for her refusal to debate then-Democratic opponent Matt Castelli leading up to the election.

She has also been criticized by her political opponents in Washington, with Rep. Dan Goldman of New York's 20th District introducing a resolution to censor the congresswoman for her comments referring to capitol rioters from the Jan. 6 insurrection as "hostages."

Continuing coverage of Elise Stefanik