The lawmaker, who leads the House Republican Conference, is a Trump loyalist, a strong Israel supporter, and a Harvard graduate.
President-elect Donald Trump has picked Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as ambassador to the United Nations.
In a statement on his choice, Trump described Stefanik, 40, as “an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter.”
Now, Stefanik must be confirmed by the Senate. Trump has pushed for whoever is selected as Senate majority leader to enable recess appointments of Trump administration officials.
The ambassador represents the United States at the body, including at the U.N. Security Council, where the United States is one of just five permanent members.
Stefanik responded to her selection in a statement on social media platform X.
“America continues to be the beacon of the world, but we expect and must demand that our friends and allies be strong partners in the peace we seek,” she wrote on Nov. 11.
Here are nine things to know about the candidate.
1. Youngest Woman Elected to Congress
Stefanik defeated both Democrat Aaron Wolf and Green Party candidate Matt Funiciello in 2014 in the contest to represent New York state’s 21st District, a sprawling region upstate that stretches to the Canadian border.
When she began serving, she was just 30 years old—at the time, a record for a female member of Congress. Another woman from New York state, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), set a new record several years later, entering Congress in 2019 at just 29.
2. Chairs the Influential House Republican Conference
Stefanik also chairs the House Republican Conference, making her third in GOP leadership behind Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.). She has been in that role since 2021 after replacing former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.).
Trump’s call for her to serve as U.N. ambassador has kicked off a scramble among Republicans seeking to fill the critical position. The conference communicates the party’s message to House Republicans through periodic meetings led by the chair.
By Nathan Worcester
