House GOP Chair Elise Stefanik posted her best quarter of fundraising on the heels of a watershed Congressional hearing during which she grilled university presidents over their unwillingness to sentence antisemitism on campus, The Post has learned.
On Tuesday, Stefanik announced she raised $5.2 million within the fourth quarter of 2023 — breaking her previous fundraising record, in response to documents reviewed by The Post.
The unabashed Trump supporter from upstate Latest York – and the third-most powerful GOPer within the House – has now raised over $13 million for the 2024 election cycle up to now.
She has transferred thousands and thousands of dollars to the National Republican Congressional Committee.
“I’m grateful for the historic support from longtime and first-time donors in upstate Latest York and across the country,” Stefanik said of her fundraising last quarter.
“It is obvious the American individuals are on the lookout for leadership and results, and I’m committed to delivering each. That is a fantastic begin to 2024 as we work to elect President Trump, grow the House Republican Majority, and save America.”
During an exchange with Rep. Elise Stefanik, former Harvard President Claudine Gay was asked whether calling for the genocide of Jews on campus violates the university’s codes of conduct.
AP
Along with securing 35,000 first-time donors, Stefanik also nabbed donations from distinguished GOP fundraisers including Blackstone Group co-founder and CEO Steve Schwarzman in addition to the corporate’s head of presidency relations Wayne Berman.
Other donors included the previous ambassador to Israel under Trump, David Friedman; Laura Perlmutter who’s married to Palm Beach billionaire Ike Perlmutter; Metro Bank Founder Vernon Hill, and Bruce Toll, the co-founder of homebuilding company Toll Brothers.
The December Congressional hearing into antisemitism on campus — which eventually led to the ouster of the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania — put Stefanik in a fair larger national highlight.
Harvard ousted Claudine Gay from her role last week. Getty Images
Because the hearing, Stefanik has remained vocal in condemning universities unwillingness to face against antisemitism.
“We must defund the rot in America’s higher education,” Stefanik previously told The Post in regards to the importance of halting donations to Ivy League schools.
Stefanik raised $13.4 million within the 2020 cycle and $9.2 million in 2022, in response to election filings.
A few of her previous donors included Paul Singer, founder and co-CEO of Elliott Management; John Catsimatidis, founder and CEO of Red Apple Group, and Long Island billionaire Andy Sabin.
Blackstone Group Chairman Stephen Schwarzman donated to Stefanik last quarter. Getty Images
Last 12 months, Stefanik launched a “battleground fund” to spice up Republicans within the perennially blue Empire State because the party looks to hold on to gains made within the last election, The Post previously reported.