Elise Stefanik Is Being Underrated as a Trump VP Pick
Originally published in The Hill on July 1, 2024.
As the national conversation around Trump’s vice-presidential pick intensifies, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) stands out as the only woman left on the reported shortlist. A pro-Israel, anti-abortion congresswoman representing New York’s 21st district, Stefanik is also a Catholic.
Trump picking a Christian woman for his running mate might seem contradictory. After all, he was recently convicted for covering up paying hush money to a porn actress.
But I’ve been tracking right-wing Christian women since 2016, and Stefanik making the VP shortlist comes as no surprise. Stefanik is a manifestation of Christian women’s continued support for Trump and shows that, after being dismissed for years, the group is finally being recognized as a potent political force.