Elise Stefanik: from Republican moderate to Trump favourite

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A Republican power struggle may spell the political end for congresswoman Liz Cheney, whose persistent criticism of former President Donald Trump looks likely to cost her the number three spot in her party. Her likely replacement? New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who has grown into one of Mr Trump’s most dogged defenders.

In 2014, four years before Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez entered politics, a freshman lawmaker from New York became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.

Republican Elise Stefanik – then 30 years old – billed herself to voters as a traditional conservative with an independent