Kathy Hochul won another term as New York governor last week, by about 20 points. Democrats also captured governors’ offices in Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, and Nevada. For people in the smaller towns and suburbs of those states, one question is worth asking: who will pay for the promises that follow?
Much of the post-election discussion has centered on Congress. But governors and state legislatures matter too. They decide how a substantial share of public money is spent, and those decisions reach well beyond major cities.
I grew up near dairy farms in upstate New York, where New York City often felt a long way off. For years, I assumed what happened at City Hall wouldn’t affect us much. I’m less sure of that now. People living outside big cities may want to pay closer attention.
Zohran Mamdani became New York City’s mayor in January, promising free bus service, free child care, and city-run grocery stores. He has been open about wanting Albany’s help. A city can make ambitious promises; finding the money to keep them is a different challenge.
In February, Mamdani unveiled a preliminary budget of $127 billion. He warned that without state approval to raise taxes on wealthy residents and corporations, the city might need to increase property taxes by 9.5%. The budget adopted in June came to $125.8 billion and did not include that proposed increase. Still, the debate over state assistance was real.
Hochul and Mamdani announced $1.5 billion in additional state support over two fiscal years. Some of the money covered expenses that previous administrations had shifted to the city, while $500 million was one-time aid.
Separately, Albany set aside $2.4 billion for child-care assistance across New York, including funding for city programs. These are distinct budget items, and it matters not to blur them together. But taxpayers statewide have a stake in both.
Residents of places like Elmira and Buffalo may help fund services they never use, such as New York City’s free buses. And the city’s adopted financial plan projects a $6.44 billion shortfall in fiscal 2028, followed by gaps of more than $8 billion in each of the next two years. Those figures come from the city itself.
The important questions are whether state spending is justified, how long it will continue, and which communities will shoulder the cost. Governors should be prepared to answer plainly, rather than relying on the reassuring sound of the word “free.”
Other states have their own versions of this debate. Illinois approved a transit funding overhaul that redirected gas-tax revenue, raised regional sales taxes, and changed tollway financing to support transit in the Chicago area. Those choices benefit some people and cost others. Georgia has elected former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms as governor; it will be worth watching how residents outside Atlanta see her priorities take shape in the state capital.
I’ve spent much of my career in energy and utilities, and I’ve seen how rules made in Albany can affect people who had little say in them. In 2024, New York passed a Climate Change Superfund Act intended to raise $75 billion over 25 years from major fossil-fuel companies, beginning in 2028. Supporters called it a bill for industry. I would have liked more discussion of whether some of the cost could ultimately reach customers, including farmers and families who heat their homes with propane.
Federal courts blocked the law earlier this year, and New York has appealed. The state isn’t collecting that money now, but the proposal offers a glimpse of the tax and spending ideas that can gain support in Albany. Texans with a new Democratic governor may want to consider the implications before similar plans are floated in Austin.
Sometimes cities have a good case for state aid. They should make that case and show the numbers. State policies affect everyone, including communities that don’t have a major-city mayor negotiating directly with the governor. A promise made for one group can become a bill shared by many others.
Last week’s election was difficult for conservatives. There’s no point pretending otherwise. But elections are one part of a longer political contest. Many people focused intensely on Washington while paying little attention to their state-level races. Progressives have spent years building influence in statehouses, and mayors with costly agendas are counting on that support.
Another election will come soon enough, and it won’t be only about the White House. Learn who represents you in the state Senate. Pay attention to what your largest city asks the state to fund. Ask the governor what a proposal will cost, who stands to benefit, and what happens when the money runs out. When a mayor promises something at no charge, it’s worth finding out who is picking up the tab.
