U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik has become a national political figure in recent years, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump and a top-ranking member of the House Republican caucus. 

But this summer, she's also been working to shore up Republican power in the House of Representatives for districts in her own home state of New York. 

"My number one priority is always representing my constituents, but they're excited when other candidates across the state look to me to make endorsements and work with them," Stefanik said in an interview. 

Stefanik was in Rensselaer County on Thursday to campaign with Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, who is running in a special election on Tuesday to fill the seat vacated this spring by Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado. Molarino is also set to run for a re-drawn House district this November. 

They toured a business in the town of Schaghticoke, meeting with employees of a company that repairs restaurant equipment with plans for rallies later in the day. 

It's races like Molinaro's that could determine how power is set in Washington next year and the course of President Joe Biden's remaining two years in his term.

New York is far from being a battleground state in the presidential election, but has served as a hotbed over the years for closely watched and contested congressional seats.  

"In 2010 when we won the House majority, the state that picked up the most Republicans was New York and I think we're going to do that this year as we build a historic majority," Stefanik said.  

Stefanik is pushing for Molinaro, as well as candidates like Mike Lawler and Colin Schmitt in the Hudson Valley. And she's endorsed Carl Paladino, a Buffalo-area businessman who has made a raft of controversial statements. This week, he suggested U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland should probably be executed; adding later he was being facetious. 

"Many of the statements, very similar to President Trump, are taken out of context by the media," Stefanik said. "Certainly any threat of violence toward law enforcement is wrong, but that's not what we he was doing. It's sort of a gotcha game by the mainstream media, but I think he's in a very strong position to win." 

Paladino is facing New York Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy in Tuesday's primary.

Republicans this year have been running on issues surrounding voters concerns over crime and inflation. Democrats, especially in blue states like New York, hope to counter that with focusing on issues like abortion rights. 

Molinaro is running in a special election for what has been a district that has changed hands between both parties over the years.

"They know what it's like to be ignored by government, they know what it's like to have the highest burden of taxation," he said of voters in the district.  

For Molinaro, the party's 2018 nominee for governor, it's important to have someone like Stefanik stump with him, he said. 

"Elise has been tremendously helpful, the entire delegation and the leadership," he said. "They understand how important it is to have a voice for the 19th Congressional District, someone who is going to get on the ground running battling for this district."