Officials on Long Island have expressed strong disapproval of new state election laws that aim to reshape local campaigns and potentially favor Downballot Democrats.
At a press conference held on Tuesday, members from both political parties urged Governor Kathy Hochul to endorse a law that prioritizes local races, even while federal elections dominate the voting calendar.
“For over 100 years, our local elections have been held in a peculiar year,” stated Bruce Blakeman (R), Nassau County’s official, outside the Farmingdale Village Hall. “What’s going on? This is an issue of state control. Albany is trying to enforce one party’s standards on our counties, towns, and villages.”
Blakeman, along with legislators from Suffolk and Nassau counties, accused Albany of being more focused on overarching state and national matters.
Republicans highlighted that New York’s recent electoral shift during the presidential election was significant. They contended that the new legislation is an attempt to undermine GOP momentum in suburban regions.
Long Island, where a Republican presidential candidate won Nassau County for the first time since 1988, feels particularly targeted by these changes, while New York City, with its solid Democratic base, seems exempt from similar rules.
“They’re mixing localized discussions into the fray, which prevents genuine conversation about what’s truly important to local governments,” Blakeman remarked.
“Our local officials and candidates need to focus on local concerns, rather than being overshadowed by national narratives,” he added.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R) echoed these sentiments, condemning the law along with his fellow lawmakers.
“This isn’t how government should function,” Romaine expressed. “There are numerous local issues at stake, many unrelated to state or federal matters, and this could potentially undermine our local governance. We are the government that’s closest to the people,” he noted.
Despite the outrage, a New York court ruled last week that the law is constitutional, dealing a significant blow to Republican efforts to challenge it.
The court determined that while counties can establish their own governance structure, they do not have exclusive authority over election timing.
Blakeman and Romaine emphasized that their fight isn’t over, noting plans to appeal to the New York Supreme Court to overturn the ruling and safeguard local control.
“Even if we’re not currently winning, our aim is to push forward. This is a struggle that will continue,” Romaine stated.
Governor Hochul responded to reporters by framing the change as a matter of “democracy,” aiming to encourage higher voter turnout in local elections.
“When local races coincide with major federal elections, voter turnout is typically low. This can lead to undue influence from special interest groups,” Hochul remarked.
“I think this is about democracy. It’s been years since there’s been a trend of voting during these other elections. Why should we fear allowing voters to make their choices?” she added.
