How did Elise Stefanik go from Donald Trump critic to potential running mate?

Jun 13 , 2024

Elise Stefanik has turned from Donald Trump critic to loyalist. Photo: @EliseStefanik/X

Once seen as a Republican moderate, Stefanik was the youngest congresswoman when elected in 2014, and took on colleges for alleged antisemitism

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is one of Donald Trump’s top vice-presidential options. She has not only dramatically changed her politics in recent years – a move that even saw Trump comment that “she’s come a long way, and now she’s really, really with us”, per NBC – but she has also proved to be a fighter.

In 2014, Elise Stefanik became the youngest woman elected to Congress. Photo: @EliseStefanik/X

The 39-year-old made headlines at a congressional hearing in late 2023 when she faced off against top bosses from Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology over alleged antisemitism. Two of those university presidents later resigned.

Ten years ago, Stefanik became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress at the time. Now she finds herself on a different path as Trump’s possible running mate in the 2024 presidential election.

From getting her first job as a clerk at Old Navy to becoming one of the most powerful women in Republican circles, here’s what you need to know about her.

What is Elise Stefanik’s background?

Elise Stefanik (left) took on colleges accused of fostering antisemitism. Photo: @EliseStefanik/X

Elise was born and raised in upstate New York, which she is “proud to call home”, per her bio on her website. Her parents are Melanie and Kenneth Stefanik, who both reportedly hail from Polish descent, although Elise has previously described her dad as Czech and her mum as Italian.

In 2019, she offered more glimpses into her family and personal life on social media, sharing holiday photos, snaps of her dad’s Christmas Eve pierogies, cooking tips and other titbits. However, as her links to Trump increased, so did the hate she got online. Today, she largely refrains from sharing personal information publicly.

She also did not always aim to get into politics: according to The Washington Post, Stefanik once said she aspired to be a Disney animation artist growing up.