Rebecca C. Lewis
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State politics at @CityandStateNY. She/her. Mom to Ivy the Capitol Dog. Pitches and dog pics to rlewis@cityandstateny.com.
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Articles by Rebecca C. Lewis
State unemployment system to get massive upgrades
By Rebecca C. Lewis, State Bureau Chief The state’s ancient unemployment insurance system, long criticized for moving at a snail’s pace and its antiquated interface, is set to receive its first major overhaul in 50 years. The state Department of Labor on Monday announced that starting Nov. 2 at 5 p.m., the state’s unemployment insurance system will be down for nine to 12 days for a top-to-bottom update that will bring it into the 21st century.
One month out from Election Day, Hochul has more than $33 million in the bank
September 29, 2026 06:00 AM ET Gov. Kathy Hochul’s campaign is touting a historic $33.5 million sum for cash on hand with just over a month ahead of Election Day. The governor’s campaign announced on Tuesday it had raised a combined $8.5 million between her reelection committee and the state Democratic Party since mid-July. That includes $2.6 million directly to Hochul’s campaign and $5.9 million to the state party, which the governor leads.
State unemployment system to get massive upgrades
The state’s ancient unemployment insurance system, long criticized for moving at a snail’s pace and its antiquated interface, is set to receive its first major overhaul in 50 years. The state Department of Labor on Monday announced that starting Nov. 2 at 5 p.m., the state’s unemployment insurance system will be down for nine to 12 days for a top-to-bottom update that will bring it into the 21st century.
Chuck Schumer is still traveling, and sticking it to Al D’Amato
Chuck Schumer is one of New York’s 20 most influential politicians of the past 20 years. See the full list. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has been visiting all 62 counties in New York annually for longer than City & State has been around – by almost a full decade. After pledging to visit every last New York county during his first U.S. Senate election against Al D’Amato in 1998, Schumer has made good on the promise for 27 straight years. This year will make 28.
Quinnipiac poll puts Hochul up 19 points over Blakeman
September 23, 2026 03:48 PM ET It’s a tale of two polls. Quinnipiac University released its first survey of gubernatorial race Wednesday afternoon that has Gov. Kathy Hochul leading Republican nominee Bruce Blakeman by a whopping 19 points. It came out hot on the heels of a Siena University poll that showed the contest for governor with a 9-point margin. The new Quinnipiac poll – which surveyed 1,026 likely voters between Sept.
Hochul leads Blakeman by just 9 points in new Siena poll
The race for governor remains largely unchanged compared to a month ago, according to new polling. That’s not the best news for Gov. Kathy Hochul, since it puts her Republican opponent Bruce Blakeman within single digits. The latest poll from Siena University has Hochul leading Blakeman 50%-41% among likely voters in New York, just a 9-point lead with less than two months to go before Election Day on Nov. 3.
In Suffolk, Schaffer keeps control of the county Democratic Party
After 12 rounds of voting over three-and-a-half hours, Suffolk County Democratic Party Chair Rich Schaffer emerged victorious in the battle for control of the party he has led for over a quarter century. He fended off Kathryn Casey Quigley, who gave him his first serious challenge ever, arguing Schaffer hasn’t done enough to help Democrats win elections on Long Island thanks to compromises with Republicans and perpetuating a harmful patronage system.
Inside Rich Schaffer’s ‘hardball’ campaign to keep power in Suffolk County
Longtime Suffolk County Democratic Party Chair Rich Schaffer is a Long Island power broker and dealmaker who has kept a solid grasp on power for over two decades. And it seems like he’s pulling out all the stops in an attempt to fend off his first-ever challenge – including allegedly offering money to one committee member to ensure they show up for the vote and allegedly pressuring county Board of Elections patronage employees to vote for him on Sept.
Inside Ogden’s challenge to Jay Jacobs
State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs is getting his first serious challenge of his tenure from Otsego County Democratic Party Chair Caitlin Ogden. The rural party leader said many people are disappointed with how the party has been run under Jacobs, and she is stepping up to be the kind of change she’d like to see. But with the next organizing committee meeting and the leadership vote set for Sept.
Lisa Kaul looks to oust Rolinson from state Senate
September 18, 2026 05:49 PM ET For the past four years, Democrats have attempted to win state Senate District 39, a Democratic-leaning seat centered around Poughkeepsie. Now, Dutchess County Legislator Lisa Kaul is trying her hand at unseating Republican state Sen. Rob Rolison, the moderate former mayor of Poughkeepsie who has held the seat since its creation in the last redistricting cycle . After winning a three-way primary in June, Kaul advanced to take on Rolison in November.
As Hochul weighs opting in to tax credit, teachers unions and school choice advocates vie for her ear
Opposing sides of the fight over an optional federal school choice tax credit are doubling down on as Gov. Kathy Hochul weighs whether to officially participate in the first-of-its-kind program. Opponents led by the New York City and state teachers unions rallied in Manhattan Wednesday urging the governor to reject the program. Meanwhile, supporters including charter school advocates sent a letter to Hochul imploring her to make support she signaled in May official.
Trump has promised to issue checks if the GOP holds the House. Is he taking a page from Hochul?
September 14, 2026 03:01 PM ET For the second year in a row, Gov. Kathy Hochul is sending checks directly to New York residents ahead of November elections. This time, it’s her own reelection. But rest assured, the direct-mail checks from the state are nothing like the checks President Donald Trump recently promised to voters and that Hochul criticized.
Pataki says Mamdani should skip 9/11 memorial
Republican former Gov. George Pataki exclusively told City & State on Thursday that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani should skip the upcoming 9/11 memorial commemorating its 25th anniversary – an extraordinary demand from the man who was governor at the time of the 2001 attack.
Blakeman sends fake pied-à-terre letters in campaign stunt
More than a month after the worst of the rocky rollout of New York City’s pied-à-terre tax, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman’s campaign is sending some awfully official-looking “memorandums of tax assessment” to New York City homeowners, claiming those people would be subject to the city’s new tax on second homes while soliciting them for campaign donations.
Despite early promises of transparency, Hochul has dragged her feet in releasing her detailed public schedules
Upon taking office five years ago, Gov. Kathy Hochul promised an unprecedented era of transparency. That hasn’t led to speedier schedule releases in recent years. Her office last week released a tranche of nine months worth of detailed public schedules, offering further insight into who she has met with and what she did during that period of time. But the schedules only go through June 2025, making even the most recently released ones about 14 months out of date.
John Samuelsen and the art of strategic petrol bomb-throwing
“I know (MTA Chair and CEO) Janno (Lieber) doesn’t appreciate his tactics, but look – to get people to go and protest in front of someone’s home means that they will follow you anywhere,” Daglian said, referring to coordinated protests of not just Lieber, but politicians as well. Hochul has also been greeted by an entourage of TWU protesters at transit-related events.
Immigrant advocates have plans for ONA’s new funding
Funding for immigrant legal services through the state Office for New Americans got a $10 million bump in the state budget approved earlier this year, bringing the total to $74.2 million. Now, immigrant rights advocates have recommendations for the New York Department of State on how that additional money should be spent to best serve immigrant communities.
Hochul launches her first TV ads of the cycle as she shifts into full campaign mode
August 20, 2026 06:00 AM ET Gov. Kathy Hochul is officially shifting into campaign mode as her first two TV ads of the cycle are set to start airing Thursday and the state Democratic Party prepares to host a statewide series of events this weekend in a pre-Labor Day kickoff to the general election push. The first of the two ads features the governor discussing her first job at pizzeria in Buffalo.
In purple Suffolk County, Democrats are weighing a leadership change
For over a quarter century, a single man has controlled Democratic politics in Suffolk County. Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer has led the county Democratic Party with a degree of political acumen and cross-party dealmaking rarely seen in today’s hyperpartisan political landscape.
Shelley Mayer is ready to lead the DSCC
After a long – and very successful – nearly 16 years of leading the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, now former-state Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris has passed the torch to state Sen. Shelley Mayer. He leaves big shoes to fill. Gianaris took over after a rough election cycle in 2010 that saw Democrats lose a short-lived and contentious majority in the chamber, and went on to orchestrate his party’s return to power in 2019.
New poll shows race for governor tightening
A new Siena University poll shows the race for governor narrowing three months from Election Day, even as Gov. Kathy Hochul maintains a double-digit, 10-point lead over Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, her Republican challenger. The poll has Hochul leading Blakeman 49%-39% among likely voters. It’s the first survey of the cycle to poll that population.
State Democratic Party files formal complaint over Blakeman’s AI use
August 10, 2026 The state Democratic Party is asking the state Board of Elections to take action against Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman’s use of generative artificial intelligence in his campaign materials. In a new letter to BOE officials shared exclusively with City & State, state Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs alleged the Blakeman campaign is violating election law through his use of AI. Blakeman has frequently used AI to create campaign videos and social media content.
Komatireddy’s law-and-order AG campaign
New York hasn’t elected a Republican as attorney general in over 30 years – but Saritha Komatireddy is looking to change that this year as she takes on the two-term Attorney General Letitia James. Until late last year, Komatireddy had served over a decade as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York, a record she’s running heavily on as she pitches a strong law-and-order message to voters.
‘Fuck this, we’re getting better’: Liz Krueger is on the mend
State Sen. Liz Krueger has been a staple in Albany for a quarter century, helping guide her chamber through the state budget process for the last several years as chair of the Finance Committee. So her absence following a stroke in April was felt strongly by both her colleagues and other state capital politicos. Krueger’s recovery kept her away from Albany for the prolonged budget negotiations and the end of the legislative session in June, and she’s kept a light public schedule as well.
Blakeman sets stage for election denialism
July 29, 2026 05:00 PM ET Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman is taking another page out of President Donald Trump’s playbook and refusing to say whether he will accept the results of the November election without a caveat. That comes shortly after he said Democrats will “steal” the election in order to win. Speaking to reporters in Penn Station on Wednesday, Blakeman said Democrats have “consistently tried to cheat” over the course of the gubernatorial race so far.
More New York Dems are calling for ICE to be abolished
July 29, 2026 12:00 PM ET Support across New York for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is growing as more than 30 additional Democratic elected officials have signed on to an open letter demanding just that. The letter addressed to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries originally had 107 signers when it was first released on July 20. Wednesday additions bring the letter to 143 total signatories from Long Island to Buffalo.
An early look at the state legislative races on our radar this November
July 27, 2026 02:25 PM ET With 100 days until Election Day, all eyes are on crucial congressional races as control of the House hangs in the balance. But they’re hardly the only contests that will be on the ballot. Democrats are hoping to strengthen their numbers in the state Legislature this year, especially in the state Senate. They briefly held a veto-proof supermajority, but lost it in 2024.
Should the state Legislature meet year-round? Maybe. Will it? Don’t hold your breath.
July 27, 2026 05:00 AM ET After several marathon days at the end of the state legislative session, the leaders of both chambers took to their floors to give end-of-year speeches. After coming up against the clock in Albany to debate and pass hundreds of bills, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie sent their members home until the start of the new legislative session in 2027.
Is New York adequately serving immigrants? It’s hard to say.
The state comptroller’s office is out with a new audit of the Office for New Americans as the demand for legal services funding and support for immigrants has hit a fever pitch over the last several years. Its findings boil down to “we don’t know what we don’t know.” The Office for New Americans, part of the state Department of State, primarily connects recent immigrants and other foreign-born New Yorkers with free resources, including legal services.
Blakeman reports extra $1.6 million raised in amended campaign filing
A week after his July campaign finance report showed him millions of dollars short of what he’d initially claimed to raise, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman has finally filed a promised amended report that makes up the difference. Blakeman’s campaign told the New York Post on July 13 that he’d raised $11 million since launching in December to unseat Gov. Kathy Hochul.
David Siffert talks nonbinary identity and bill drafting
Attorney David Siffert is set to make history next year as the first out nonbinary member of the state Legislature. But their race, and plans for Albany, go beyond just their trailblazing identity. Siffert won their race after a recount last week to replace retiring Assembly Member Deborah Glick in a downtown Manhattan district including Greenwich Village and Tribeca. It was one of the last races in the state to get called thanks to a razor-thin margin of victory.
Blakeman fundraising numbers much lower than he initially touted
July 15, 2026 10:34 PM ET Earlier this week, a top campaign official for Republican Bruce Blakeman’s gubernatorial campaign told the New York Post the Nassau County executive had raised nearly $11 million in his bid to unseat Gov. Kathy Hochul, enough to compete with the incumbent’s deep coffers. But a new campaign finance filing shows Blakeman hasn’t raised anywhere near that amount.
State lawmakers eye LGBTQ+ caucus in Albany
July 13, 2026 01:56 PM ET The state Legislature is poised to have the most out-LGBTQ+ members in its history at the start of the next year. Now, both current and likely incoming lawmakers are saying it’s time the body formed an LGBTQ+ caucus to formally advocate for issues important to the community. After last month’s Democratic primary elections, the state Senate is set to have at least three out-LGBTQ+ members: state Sens. Jabari Brisport and Erik Bottcher, and likely incoming state Sen.
How Jordan Wright held off the DSA
As a socialist wave overtook New York in last month’s primaries, with candidates endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America winning across New York City and beyond, one incumbent remained standing. In Harlem’s Assembly District 70, Jordan Wright held off an insurgent challenge from Conrad Blackburn, even as several of other sitting lawmakers got bested by a member of the DSA-endorsed slate. And he also prevailed in a portion of the congressional district that Rep.
Criminal justice reform advocates push against judges’ recertification
Dozens of state Supreme Court justices over the mandatory retirement age of 70 have applied for certification to remain on the bench for at least another two years. Criminal justice reform advocates wrote a letter opposing four of them this year – but what happens next is a big question mark. Under the state constitution, all state judges must retire at the end of the year they turn 70.
Congressional Democrats blast Trump, Blakeman over newly enacted Essential Plan cuts
July 1, 2026 03:33 PM ET Changes to the Essential Plan in New York under last year’s HR1 officially took effect on Wednesday, meaning that some 450,000 New Yorkers have now lost access to the low- to no-cost federally subsidized health insurance they were on.
TWU to Big Labor: don’t endorse Hochul
July 1, 2026 06:00 AM ET The Transport Workers United union dislikes Gov. Kathy Hochul so much, it’s not only refraining from endorsing her – its international president, John Samuelsen, is now urging the umbrella labor organization it's part of, the New York State AFL-CIO, not to support her as well. In a letter obtained by City & State, Samuelsen implored AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento to not endorse Hochul’s reelection.
DiNapoli’s first primary challenge put statewide public financing to the test
Neither of two Democratic challengers to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli ultimately managed to defeat the longtime incumbent last week. But both Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle benefited from matching funds, becoming the first candidates ever to test out the new public campaign finance system in a statewide race as they offered DiNapoli his first primary fight since taking office in 2007. That’s no coincidence.
With growing numbers in Albany, DSA is the new kid on the bloc
In the wake of the New York City chapter of Democratic Socialists of America’s congressional primary sweep last week, online prognosticators began to question: Is this the Democratic Party’s Tea Party moment? At the national level, the comparison to the movement of conservative Republicans that held sway for a period of time in the House of Representatives may make a degree of sense.
Hochul leads Blakeman by 20 points in latest Siena poll
The primaries are over, so it’s time to shift gears into general election mode. And a new Siena University poll has Gov. Kathy Hochul leading Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman with over 50% of the vote for the first time since the start of the year. The poll conducted between June 17 and June 23 had Hochul up 52%-32% against Blakeman among registered voters surveyed. That’s up from 49%-33% a Siena poll in April pegged the contest at.
Hochul has her strategy, and she’s sticking to it after primary day
There may have been a wave of democratic socialist and progressive primary victories in New York City and other parts of the state Tuesday, but Gov. Kathy Hochul isn’t preparing to join the Democratic Socialists of America any time soon, especially not as she prepares for her own general election.
Darializa Avila Chevalier upsets Rep. Adriano Espaillat
A certain local political publication boldly suggested she might be “,” and sure enough, super-left insurgent candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier has managed to take down a five-term member of Congress. The defeat of Rep. Adriano Espaillat is a marquee victory for New York City’s leftwing movement this cycle, further empowering the New York City Democratic Socialists of America, the Justice Democrats and Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
DiNapoli easily wins his first primary challenge in nearly two decades
In a largely expected outcome, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli fended off two opponents challenging him from the left in his first primary since taking office in a landslide victory. But his opponents Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle still managed to eat into DiNapoli’s margin of victory fairly significantly. With over about 65% of precincts reporting statewide, DiNapoli led with just under 60% of the vote, per the state Board of Elections unofficial results.
Assembly incumbents get some financial support from leadership ahead of Democratic primaries
June 22, 2026 01:56 PM ET Incumbent Democrats in the Assembly are facing an onslaught of primary challenges from progressives – but Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie is offering official monetary support to only a select few heading into primary day. The Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee generally focuses on protecting members in the general election rather than the primaries.
Pro-Palestinian legislation earns support from upstate Dems running in GOP-held seats
June 22, 2026 05:00 AM ET With opposition to Israel becoming increasingly mainstream among progressives, a fair number of Democrats running in state legislative primaries have expressed support for the controversial “Not On Our Dime” Act. And it’s not just the usual suspects of those endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America. The overall numbers of course include the DSA’s wide slate of endorsed candidates and those already in the Legislature who have co-sponsored the measure.
The prosecutor and the protester
Congressional candidates’ pre-primary filings were due last week. Here are some highlights from the last period (April 1 through June 3) for NY-7 and NY-10. Look out for a deep dive into other key House races on Thursday. Claire Valdez raised $564,000 in the last period, for a total of $1.3 million raised this cycle. Her current cash on hand is $418,000.
A cheat sheet to super PACs in the 2026 New York primaries
Follow the money: It’s fully funded by Meta, the tech company behind Facebook, Instagram and more. What’s up with that? It’s not totally clear. But Hezekiah is a longtime staffer of Rep. Greg Meeks, and spending to help his favored candidate could be a way to win the favor of the powerful Congress member.
Adriano Espaillat, Jordan Wright, join with Black leaders in show of unity to fend off DSA
June 14, 2026 08:40 PM ET A common enemy is a powerful thing. Two uptown incumbents, formerly of rival factions, cross endorsed each other on Saturday in a bid to prevent the Democratic Socialists of America from swiping either of their seats. Members of New York City’s and Upper Manhattan’s Black political leadership came out to affirm their support of Rep. Adriano Espaillat as he attempts to fend off a challenge from Democratic Socialists of America-backed Darializa Avila Chevalier.
It was a pretty good year for regulating AI in New York
By Rebecca C. Lewis, State Bureau Chief State lawmakers didn’t slow down on their attempts to create artificial intelligence safeguards this year as they approved a series of new measures to reign in misuse in the fast-growing and frequently evolving industry. Although none were quite as high-profile as the RAISE Act approved last year, legislators passed a fairly wide range of AI-related bills at the end of the legislative session earlier this month.
Enacted state budget roughly $9 billion more than initially announced
June 11, 2026 05:51 PM ET The state released the enacted budget financial plan that placed the total price tag at over $277 billion – about $9 billion higher than the $268 billion total Gov. Kathy Hochul announced in mid-May.
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