MESSAGE
| DATE | 2020-10-30 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
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| SUBJECT | Subject: [Hangout - NYLXS] Democratic control of NYC
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wsj.com
New York State Senate Democrats Hope Election Wins Net Veto Power
Jimmy Vielkind
6-8 minutes
Democrats secured a majority in the New York state Senate when they
gained eight seats in the 2018 elections. This year, they have their
sights on winning a supermajority that would let them override a
gubernatorial veto.
No party has controlled two-thirds of the 63-seat chamber since 1947.
But Deputy Senate Majority Leader Mike Gianaris said his fellow
Democrats are pushing to reach the threshold—which would allow them to
override a gubernatorial veto—in next week’s elections.
“It would give us that much more bargaining power to push our agenda,”
Mr. Gianaris said. There are now 40 Democratic senators, so the party
would need a net gain of two seats to reach a supermajority.
Democrats already make up more than two-thirds of the 150-seat state
Assembly and all statewide officeholders—including Gov. Andrew Cuomo—are
members of the party. A spokesman for Mr. Cuomo said he couldn’t think
of anything the Legislature would pass that the governor wouldn’t sign,
and that he “looks forward to a growing conference.” Legislators haven’t
overridden any of Mr. Cuomo’s vetoes since he took office in 2011.
In the last two years, Democrats strengthened and made permanent rent
regulations for roughly a million apartments, enhanced abortion
protections, set new climate goals and changed criminal-justice laws,
including the elimination of cash bail for many offenses.
Republican leaders say two years of Democratic control have given them
something to rally against—particularly the bail changes. Senate
Republican Leader Robert Ortt said the new law contributed to an
increase in crime this year, and faulted Mr. Gianaris for helping to
scuttle Amazon.com Inc.’s plans to bring at least 25,000 jobs to a
headquarters campus in Queens for up to $3 billion in tax incentives.
State Polls Fell Short in 2016. Here’s What Pollsters Learned
0:00 / 6:56
5:26
State Polls Fell Short in 2016. Here’s What Pollsters Learned
State Polls Fell Short in 2016. Here’s What Pollsters Learned
In 2016, problems with state-level election polls left some voters
surprised by the outcome. Since then, many pollsters have made changes
in the hope of accurately capturing the mood of the country ahead of the
2020 election. Photo illustration: Laura Kammermann
The two houses of the New York state Legislature were divided by party
for most of the last 50 years. When Democrats won a majority of state
Senate seats in 2018, it put the party in full control of state government.
“This is a conference that has passed terrible changes to the criminal
justice system that have single-handedly marshaled law enforcement
against them,” Mr. Ortt said.
Republicans are on the offensive in a half-dozen downstate seats. They
are targeting Sens. Kevin Thomas, James Gaughran and Monica Martinez on
Long Island; Sen. Andrew Gounardes in Brooklyn; and Sens. Jen Metzger
and Pete Harckham in the Hudson Valley. Law enforcement unions and a
cosmetics heir, Ronald Lauder, have spent millions of dollars through
political independent expenditure committees to amplify their message.
Mr. Gianaris dismissed this as fearmongering, and said changes to the
bail law have made the legal system fairer for all defendants. He said
subsidies for Amazon weren’t justified, and noted the company has been
expanding in New York City regardless. Several outside groups are
helping Democrats, and the party’s candidates and centralized campaign
committee have outspent Republicans by as much as 10 to 1 in some key
districts, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of campaign
finance records.
Senate Republican Leader Robert Ortt said that since gaining the
majority in 2018, Democrats have ‘passed terrible changes to the
criminal justice system.’
Photo: Hans Pennink/Associated Press
Democrats are on offense in a host of upstate districts where Republican
incumbents aren’t seeking re-election as a result of retirement or
taking a new job. Democrats are also outspending Republicans in these areas.
There are almost 38,000 more enrolled Democrats than Republicans in the
Buffalo-area seat where Democrat Sean Ryan and Republican Josh
Mertzlufft are vying to succeed Chris Jacobs, a Republican who now
serves in Congress. Democrats have at least a 25,000-voter enrollment
edge in two Rochester-area seats that are now represented by retiring
Sens. Joe Robach and Rich Funke.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
If Democrats attain a veto-proof supermajority in the New York state
Senate, what legislative priorities do you think they will pursue? Join
the conversation below.
Another key variable is the contest between President Trump and former
Vice President Joe Biden. Democratic turnout is typically higher in
presidential election years, but in 2016 Mr. Trump increased Republican
turnout in most areas outside of New York City compared with Mitt
Romney’s 2012 run. Democratic performance in most areas outside New York
City was lower in 2016 than in 2012.
Siena College Research Institute pollster Steven Greenberg said surveys
in New York this year show roughly a quarter of Republicans say they
will support Mr. Biden over Mr. Trump. That could have effects in
down-ballot races.
“Do they stay on Row A and go down all away, or do they come back and
vote Row B?” Mr. Greenberg said.
Write to Jimmy Vielkind at Jimmy.Vielkind-at-wsj.com
--
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that Brooklyn, like Atlantis, reaches mythological
proportions in the mind of the world - RI Safir 1998
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