—
The party that claims to want to “defend democracy” has decided to abandon the struggle in New York.
New York state Democrats are going to pass a bill that allows Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul to delay scheduling special elections until November. Current law requires Hochul to schedule a special election 90 days after a vacancy is declared.
ThenominationofformerRep.EliseStefaniktobeUNambassadorwillcreateavacancyinherdeepreddistrictoncetheSenateconfirmshernomination.Oncethebillpasses(DemocratshavelargemajoritiesinbothHouses),HochulcoulddenycitizensofNewYork’s21stCongressionalDistrictanyrepresentationforanextrasixmonths.
Themovehasprofoundnationalimplications.SpeakeroftheHouseRep.MikeJohnsonwillhaveonefewervotetopassTrump’sagenda.Currently,Johnsonhasa218-215majoritywithtwovacancies,aswellasStefanik’sseatonceshe’sconfirmed.InadditiontoStefanik’sseat,Florida’sMikeWalzresignedtobecomeTrump’snationalsecurityadvisor,andRep.MattGaetzresignedwhenTrumpnominatedhimforattorneygeneral.
Al
