NY Republicans Scream Like Stuck Pigs When Dems Use Their Own Tactics On Them

Keeping Stefanik's House Seat Empty 'Til November

When Florida Republicans retire from office in red districts, DeSantis schedules special elections as fast as is constitutionally possible. When it’s a Democrat, on the other hand, DeSantis stretches out the process for as long as he can in order to deprive Democrats of a vote. New York Democrats are turning the tables on their state’s Republicans.

Basically, the Democratic-controlled state legislature and Gov. Hochul are doing just want DeSantis does… stretching out the time between retirement and replacement, depriving the GOP of a desperately needed congressional vote. In this case we’re talking about Elise Stefanik, who represents an R+9 district in the northeast corner of the state and has been nominated by Trump to be the next ambassador to the UN. Republican Party bosses haven’t chosen their nominee yet, but it is pretty much guaranteed that whomever they chose will be the next Member of Congress from the North Country, which is 58% rural and where Trump beat Kamala 60% to 39%. Stefanik was reelected 62 to 38% against a pathetically weak Democrat. This time the Democrats have chosen a stronger candidate, dairy farmer Blake Gendebien.

The clock for the special election doesn’t start ticking until the Senate confirms Stefanik and she officially resigns from Congress. She will have no trouble being confirmed. But, working with Hakeem Jeffries, legislative Dems are introducing a bill today that will allow Hochul to schedule the special election in November, depriving the GOP of a vote for for 8 months, saving the state money for an extra election.

“I’ll tell you what a very short time frame does: It favors people who are already elected officials versus a citizen who wants to run because there’s a lot involved in this,” the Democratic governor said. “So you’re actually denying more opportunities for people to run who don’t already hold elected office.”

… State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said the legislation protects “democratic participation while ensuring the government remains fiscally responsible.”

“Right now, New Yorkers are facing unprecedented challenges including the strain on our democracy and our high cost of living,” she said. “At a time when people need our government to work more efficiently, this legislation is a common-sense approach that saves taxpayer dollars while maximizing voter turnout.”

Republicans, meanwhile, blasted the potential of Stefanik’s district going without representation for an extended period of time and called for a federal investigation into the matter.

“These shameless Albany politicians can’t win on their disastrous policies like sky-high crime, out-of-control taxes, or an illegal migrant crisis they created, so they’re resorting to using Albany swamp tactics,” Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt said. “The Senate Republicans are prepared to join any effort with the Trump administration to bring the hammer down on the brazen corruption in Albany.”

Rep. Richard Hudson, the chair of the House GOP’s campaign arm, blasted the move.

“New York Democrats anti-democracy plot to disenfranchise over 700,000 voters in New York is disgusting partisanship and cannot stand,” he said. “The voters deserve to have a voice in Congress as soon as possible, any delay is a pure power grab by Kathy Hochul and Hakeem Jeffries to silence working families across Upstate New York.”