Elise Marie Stefanik is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for New York's 21st Congressional District since 2015. She was famous for being the youngest woman ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives when she first won her seat in 2014.
Elise Stefanik is a prominent figure in the Republican Party, having served as the House Republican Conference Chair from 2021 to 2025. Her alignment with Donald Trump has strengthened her position in the party, with Stefanik becoming one of Trump's key allies.
Stefanik's district encompasses much of The North Country, including counties like Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Hamilton, Essex, Warren, Washington, and parts of Jefferson, Rensselaer, and Otsego counties. The district borders Vermont and Canada and includes the Adirondack Park. Elise Stefanik is a Republican politician from New York, serving as the U.S. Representative for the 21st Congressional District.
Early Life and Education
Elise Stefanik was born in Albany, New York, and has a Polish and Italian heritage. Her father, Kenneth, is of Polish descent, and her mother, Melanie, is of Italian descent. She grew up in Guilderland Center, New York, where her parents ran a wholesale plywood business.
She grew up in a well-to-do family and attended the Albany Academy for Girls. Stefanik went on to study at Harvard University, where she earned a degree in Government in 2006. While at Harvard, she was awarded the Women’s Leadership Award. After graduation, Stefanik worked in the administration of President George W. Bush, including roles in the Domestic Policy Council and as the director of new media for Tim Pawlenty's presidential exploratory committee. She also worked at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Foreign Policy Initiative.
Political Career
Elise Stefanik’s political career began when she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for New York’s 21st congressional district in 2014. At just 30 years old, she became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. Her early work in Congress included being appointed to the House Armed Services Committee in January 2015, followed by a vice chairmanship in February 2015 of the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Readiness.
In 2016, she was re-elected, and in 2017, she was elected as the co-chair of the "Tuesday Group." Stefanik continued to build a reputation as a rising star in the Republican Party, endorsing Donald Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential primaries and supporting him during the impeachment inquiry in 2019, where she became one of the key defenders of the President.
Stefanik has shown support for LGBT rights and was one of eight Republicans to vote in favor of the Equality Act in the 116th Congress. However, she was also outspoken in opposition to the impeachment of President Trump in 2019, announcing her stance in September of that year.
Personal Life
Stefanik is a Roman Catholic and maintains strong cultural ties to her Polish heritage. After the 2012 election, she purchased a home in Willsboro, New York, near Plattsburgh, a place her family had frequently visited for vacations. She continues to honor Polish Christmas Eve traditions due to her father's Galician Polish roots.
Elise Stefanik married Matthew Manda, the marketing and communications director for Media Group of America, on August 19, 2017. The couple met in 2012 while both were in Washington, D.C., and after dating for a few years, they tied the knot at the Hall of Springs pool in Saratoga Springs, New York. As of 2022, Manda works as the public affairs manager for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association for firearms manufacturers. The couple has one child, Samuel Albritton, born in 2021.
Net Worth
Stefanik's net worth is estimated to be around $1.5 million, with a salary as a U.S. Representative of approximately $174,000 annually, in line with the pay for members of Congress.
Legacy and Recognition
Elise Stefanik has significantly impacted U.S. politics, especially as a prominent young woman in the Republican Party. Known for her leadership skills and ability to defend her views, Stefanik continues to be a key figure in American politics, gaining national attention through her positions on critical issues like the impeachment inquiry and LGBT rights.
