Congresswoman Elise Stefanik on Motherhood and Leadership
By Caroline Melear
Elise Stefanik is one of the most accomplished women in America. She graduated from Harvard University with honors, has been married for nearly six years, and is a mom to an almost two-year-old boy. She also serves as the congresswoman for New York’s 21st district and Chair of the House Republican Conference.
Stefanik was the youngest woman ever elected to Congress in 2014. She got married in 2017 while serving. She delivered her son just a few months after her election as conference chair in 2021. She was about four months pregnant when she announced her run for chair, with few knowing she was expecting at the time. When she and her husband announced the pregnancy, they received immense support from her colleagues and constituents, who she says sees them as a “young family trying to do their very best and serve our country.”
Even with her incredible trajectory to date, becoming a mom was a life-changing experience, she said. Motherhood made her “conscientious of the fact that this is great for the American people to see that you can be a young woman who is pregnant, about to start her family, and be at the highest levels of office.” She said becoming a mom has energized her about family and children policy issues more than ever before. It makes her “want to advocate even stronger for the future of our children,” she said.
Stefanik was vocal about the baby formula shortage last year, demanding action from the Biden administration through press conferences, letters to the FDA, op-eds, and legislative proposals. Other policy priorities of hers include parental rights in education and increasing access to home-based childcare.
Her strong leadership can he traced back to her campaign for student council in grade school. She attended an all-girls school, which she says allowed her to see women in a variety of leadership roles. She also credits her own parents.
“I would not have had the opportunity to serve in Congress were it not for my parents being my strongest advocates for the best educational opportunity,” she said.
Stefanik wants to expand opportunities for children nationwide and allow parents to “focus on nurturing your children and raising them to the best possible versions of their American dream.”
A senior in high school during 9/11, Stefanik says that earth-shattering event partially drove her to run for office with a national security focus.
“I never would have imagined that twenty years later, I would be in Congress hosting a call on the Afghanistan withdrawal,” she said.
A few days after giving birth her son in the hospital, Stefanik, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, was working into the wee hours of the morning on the national defense bill markup. In that bill, she says she was able to “deliver multiple legislative victories” for her district and was “proud to do so as a new mom with a few-day-old son.”
Stefanik hopes to give women “the confidence that they can juggle this a well.” When asked about navigating the challenges of being both a mom to a young child and serving in a high-ranking leadership position, Stefanik said she encourages women everywhere to “break the mold.” She has certainly done so in her own life.
Her son Sam, who turns two years old in August, takes after his mother as a distinctly accomplished youngster. He loves to read classics like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Goodnight Moon, and all things Dr. Seuss. He is well on his way to completing his local library’s challenge of “1000 Books Before Kindergarten.” Stefanik spends frequent morning reading time with her son. Sam has also spent time on the House floor, where he has befriended many members of Congress and “loves looking at the red and green buttons.”
Stefanik’s strong family values are also rooted in her upbringing. She calls her parents “the most formative people” in her life. It is fitting that she plans to spend this Mother’s Day with her son and her own mother, who she says has always encouraged her to pursue her dreams.
A strong community is a vital aspect of parenting, and especially so for a woman as busy as Stefanik. She is emphatic about the importance of the support she receives from her family and her constituents, as well as many of her colleagues. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy had this to say of Stefanik:
“When I first met Elise ten years ago, she was on her way to becoming the youngest women elected to Congress. I could tell she was smart, driven, and dedicated. Today, she is the top-ranking Republican woman in the House, a unifying force in our conference, and a strong voice for New Yorkers and women. But of all the titles she holds, I know the title she is proudest of is Mom. She is always smiling because she has this young child named Sam, who smiles even more. Sam is one of the happiest babies I have ever met, and I love seeing Sam whenever I get the chance. Elise is a wonderful leader and an even better parent.”
Stefanik’s own thoughts on motherhood certainly echo the speaker’s, saying “I think about the most important legacy an individual can leave and, from my perspective, it’s about being the best mother I can absolutely be to Sam.”
Caroline Melear is a columnist for The Conservateur,a resident fellow in finance, insurance, and trade at a free market think tank, and a Young Voices Contributor. She has appeared on Fox Business, CBS Miami, and The Today Show and written for the Daily Caller. You can follow her on Twitter @carolinemelear.
