Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., condemned what she called “radical Far Left Democrat agitators” who disrupted an event in her home district in upstate New York on Monday.
Stefanik, a prominent Trump ally who has been hinting at a Republican campaign for New York governor, was booed offstage by protesters during a ceremony in Plattsburgh honoring the late John Zurlo, a longtime Clinton County political figure.
“Today #NY21 witnessed shameful conduct by radical Far Left Democrat agitators who disgracefully attempted to drown out and silence a non-political event in Plattsburgh to honor the lifelong service of John Zurlo in Clinton County as the building was named in his honor,” Stefanik said on X Monday morning.
As she approached the podium, protesters shouted “Traitor!” and forced her to step back alongside other officials. Stefanik later returned to the stage and delivered her remarks despite the interruptions.
Speaking to reporters after the event, Stefanik explained her decision to return to the podium.
“I thought that the radicals would calm down out of respect for the Zurlo family,” she said. “Obviously, they did not do that, but I was not going to let them drown out me by talking about how important it is to commemorate John Zurlo’s legacy.”
Despite the disruption, Stefanik emphasized the importance of “making sure the Zurlo family heard from me.” She later clarified on X that she also privately addressed the family with her remarks.
During the August congressional recess, House members have been hosting events and meeting constituents in their home districts.
While Republicans celebrate the tax cuts and immigration reforms included in President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” Democrats have criticized vulnerable House Republicans for reducing Medicaid funding.
Republicans contend the legislation only targets waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, but according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), roughly 10 million more Americans could be uninsured by 2034 as a result of the bill.
The effects of Trump’s signature policy are expected to play a key role in the competitive midterm elections in 2026.
The protesters’ messages were varied: some opposed Trump’s second-term agenda, including his ICE deportation policies, while also criticizing Stefanik’s support for the megabill. Other signs called out perceived racism and labeled Stefanik a “bully.”
Stefanik has not yet formally launched her campaign for governor against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, but she has spent months laying the groundwork and criticizing the governor’s anti-Trump policies.
