Rep. Elise Stefanik announced Friday that she is suspending her campaign for New York governor and will not seek reelection to Congress, bowing out of the race in a surprise statement that said “it is not an effective use of our time” to stay in what was expected to be a bruising Republican primary.

Rep. Elise Stefanik announced Friday that she is suspending her campaign for New York governor and will not seek reelection to Congress, abruptly bowing out of what was expected to be a bruising Republican primary and ending a once-promising tenure in the House. Stefanik, an ally of President Donald Trump, said in a statement that she was confident of her chances in the Republican primary for governor against Bruce Blakeman, a county official in New York City’s suburbs. Stefanik was set to have a tough race against Blakeman, with both politicians counting themselves as allies of Trump and attempting to court his support.

Rep. Elise Stefanik says she is suspending her campaign for New York governor and will not seek reelection to Congress.

Rep. Elise Stefanik says she is suspending her campaign for New York governor and will not seek reelection to Congress.