U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler stood beside New York legislative Republicans Tuesday morning to criticize Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic policies ahead of her State of the State address as the Hudson Valley congressman mulls a run for governor next year.

Lawler slammed the Democratic governor on state spending, criminal justice reforms, the migrant influx, congestion pricing and other issues.

“Kathy Hochul] is a feckless and failed governor who needs to be replaced in 2026,” Lawler said from the state Capitol. “In Washington, I was proud to be rated the fourth most bipartisan member of Congress thanks to a record of truly finding record ground between Democrats and Republicans to solve problems like raising the [deduction for state and local taxes], which we will get done in this Congress, or fixing our broken immigration system and securing the border, combatting antisemitism, stopping congestion pricing, cracking down on crime and standing with our police.”

While Lawler’s current political home is in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Lawler is not a stranger to Albany. He served a single term in the state Assembly from 2021 to 2022.

Lawler represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is made up of Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and southern Dutchess counties. He was first elected to that post in 2022 and was reelected easily in 2024.

Lawler said it’s no secret he’s looking to be the Republican nominee to challenge Hochul and will make an official decision whether to jump in the ring or not later this year.

“We cannot continue down this path where New York leads the nation in out-migration,” Lawler said.

State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt said New Yorkers are fed up with crime and the cost of living.

“These are the issues that common-sense New Yorkers believe should be pursued and if my colleagues across the aisle don't feel the same way, then there's going to be a lot more Republicans in office in the future,” Ortt said.

Hochul delivers her State of the State address at 1 p.m. at The Egg in Albany.