New mom Stefanik not slowing down For her district & her baby
Elise Stefanik says she is going to have it all.
The new mom, upstate congresswoman and House Republican Conference chair won’t be backing off her official duties, even after the arrival of her son, Samuel Albritton Manda, six week ago.
“I think it is important for women in a senior position in all sorts of careers to talk about that and show that,” Rep. Stefanik said of balancing family life with a career.
“I am so energetic in fighting for the future of this country because it will have an impact on Sam’s life.”
Stefanik said she was lucky to have parents and inlaws to also shoulder some of the responsibilities.
“That support system is different for every family, but I have the opportunity to continue being the best mom I can be and being the best elected official and public servant I can be because of that support system of family,” she said.
Stefanik, now 37, was the youngest woman ever elected to the House when she won office in 2014. She became its newest mom on Aug. 27, when Sam arrived at 9 pounds, 3 ounces and 23 inches.
The bubbly baby boy has her eyes and husband Matthew Manda’s nose, Stefanik gushed.
The 24 hours before Sam’s scheduled birth were frenetic.
The deadline for President Biden’s withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan was days away, and hundreds of American were still stranded. The night before Sam was born, Stefanik chaired a conference call with fellow Republicans in the House to discuss the deteriorating situation.
Sam, however, has been untroubled by the global turmoil and his hobbies, for now, include looking out the window, going for walks and listening to Dr. Seuss. (Stefanik says she will welcome the children’s book author’s full collection into her home.)
In the morning, he enjoys classical music — particularly Chopin.
For Stefanik and her hubby, the last six weeks have been the usual roller coaster of new parenting.
“[Sam] has had some record days with 20 diapers — and we’ve gotten to be pretty expert diaper changers,” Stefanik said with a laugh, adding that the couple has gotten used to sleepless nights.
Sam’s first public appearance was at a local 9/11 memorial, while his first letter came from former President Donald Trump, who offered congratulations.
Stefanik says she plans to introduce Sam on the House floor, when he tags along with her on the regular seven-hour drives between her home in upstate Schuylerville and Washington, DC.
It is important for women in a senior position in all sorts of careers to talk about that and show that. Rep. Elise Stefanik, on work-life balance
Stefanik’s refusal to slow down may be a boon for her Republican colleagues. In the third quarter of 2021, she raised $1.5 million through her various committees and the fundraising platform WinRed.
Through E-PAC, her political action committee, Stefanik has made it her mission to elect more Republican women to Congress — and she has distributed cash generously to her colleagues.
In June, two of her fellow New York Republicans — Reps. Nicole Malliotakis, of Staten Island and Brooklyn, and Claudia Tenney, of Central New York — each got $5,000, while her campaign committee transferred $1 million to the National Republican Congressional Committee, Federal Election Commission records show.
And while banking favors, Stefanik said she has been also keeping an eye on the future, predicting that the White House would be Trump’s again in 2024.
“I believe [Trump] will [run], and I believe that he should. I strongly support the president, and I think it’s becoming clearer and clearer and evidenced by the polling that the American people have significant buyer’s remorse when it comes to Joe Biden,” she said.
Trump is known to be chummy with Stefanik, and rumors have swirled of a possible veep spot if the former president does pursue the White House again.
“If President Trump is reelected president I think it would be an honor to serve in his administration,” she said.
“I hope he runs. I will continue doing the best job I can serving my district and serving as conference chair — and being the best mom I can be to Sam.”