Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NY Dems consider calendar change that could keep Stefanik seat empty
By
Jimmy Vielkind
Published Jan 31, 2025
Modified Jan 31, 2025
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
By
Jimmy Vielkind
Published Jan 31, 2025
Modified Jan 31, 2025
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
New York lawmakers are discussing a bill that would give Gov. Kathy Hochul more time to set dates for special elections, which could leave Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik’s red North Country seat empty until the summer.
Democrats who control the state Assembly and Senate may introduce the bill as soon as Friday and vote on it Monday, multiple officials familiar with the talks told Gothamist. The discussions were first reported by the Capitol Pressroom.
If enacted, the proposal would allow New York’s Democratic governor to frustrate national Republicans, who currently control the House of Representatives by a margin of 218 to 215. President Donald Trump nominated Stefanik as ambassador to the United Nations, setting her up to become the third GOP congressmember to resign her seat if confirmed by the Senate. She appeared at a confirmation hearing last week, but her confirmation vote has not yet been scheduled.
Two other GOP congressmembers from Florida resigned their House seats after Trump named them to his cabinet, leaving their posts vacant until special elections scheduled for April 1 in the Sunshine State. If Stefanik is confirmed and steps down, too, the pending New York legislative maneuver could prolong the vacancy of her seat, which Republicans are favored to win.
Representatives for Stefanik did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Assemblymember Latrice Walker, a Brooklyn Democrat who chairs the chamber’s elections committee, confirmed state lawmakers were considering a change but said no legislation has been finalized.
“We’re always looking for cost-effective measures by which to exact democracy,” she said. “And as a voting rights advocate, I’m always looking for fairness, justice and equity.”
Democrats who dominate the Assembly held a virtual discussion on the topic on Friday afternoon, the officials said. Several officials added that the change would save money and voters’ time by consolidating elections on a single day.
State law currently requires the governor to proclaim a special election within 10 days after an office becomes vacant. Among other changes, the bill under consideration would increase that to 15 days, the officials said.
Under current law, the special election must then occur between 70 to 80 days after the governor’s proclamation for a seat in Congress and between 40 and 50 days for a seat in the state Senate or Assembly, unless the lawmaker was in the final months of their term. Officials familiar with the talks said the proposal would increase that length of time but said the details of exactly how much were still being worked out.
One option on the table would allow the governor to combine a special election with normally scheduled primary elections in late June, or with the general election in early November.
A spokesperson for Hochul said she has supported other measures to increase voting rights, and “believes it’s critical to increase voter turnout and reduce the cost of election administration and she would support legislation that achieves that goal.”
Update: This story has been updated with a comment from Gov. Kathy Hochul's office.
Tagged
new york state
Politics
Jimmy Vielkind
Jimmy Vielkind covers how state government and politics affect people throughout New York. He has covered Albany since 2008, most recently as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal. Jimmy led a team of reporters that won a New York Press Club award for coverage of Andrew Cuomo’s downfall and was on a team that won a Gerald Loeb Award for coverage of Amazon’s HQ2 process. A native of the Capitol Region, Jimmy has two degrees in urban planning. His position is funded by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Reach Jimmy at [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot and killed on Midtown subway platform Saturday afternoon, NYPD says
Police said they're searching for a person of interest.
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Published Oct 17, 2026
Modified Oct 17, 2026 at 4:10 p.m. ET
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .