Technical Troubles Overshadow Stefanik's Campaign Announcement
Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik's much-anticipated announcement that she is running for Governor of New York was swiftly derailed by technical issues with her campaign website. The launch on Friday, 7th November 2025, was quickly overshadowed by reports that the site went live containing spelling mistakes and large sections of placeholder Latin text.
Democrats Pounce on Campaign Mishaps
Addison Dick, the rapid response director for the New York State Democratic Party, was among the first to highlight the blunders. He took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share screenshots of the faulty website, which displayed the classic Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit Amet dummy text used by designers. Political observers and fellow Democrats were quick to pile on the criticism.
Incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul joined the fray, sharing a link to what she described as a “website that's not broken,” which proceeded to attack Stefanik's close association with former President Donald Trump. The online reception for Stefanik's campaign launch grew even more challenging as her past endorsement of the controversial figure George Santos was resurfaced by critics.
A Prominent Trump Ally Faces Early Hurdles
The technical glitches presented an immediate public relations challenge for Stefanik, a prominent ally of Donald Trump. The congresswoman, recognised for her incisive questioning in congressional hearings, was previously considered for a role as UN Ambassador. This early stumble in her gubernatorial campaign provided ample ammunition for her political opponents and set a contentious tone for the race ahead.
