NY Gov. Asks Lawmakers To Change Election Law

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), is pushing State Lawmakers to change the State's Election Law, and allow Candidates on the Ballot to be Removed as she searches for a Replacement to her former Lieutenant Governor, Brian Benjamin.

The effort to change the Law, included a phone call to at least One of the Democratic Leaders in the Legislature, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-35th District), and the current Acting Lt. Governor, who has been ambivalent about making the Change with only weeks to go before Early Voting begins in the Democratic June Primary.

Hochul is calling for the Law after the Resignation of Benjamin from the Lieutenant Governor's Office, following his Indictment on Five counts of Felony Corruption Charges. Currently, a Candidate for Office after accepting a Nomination, cannot be Removed from the Ballot unless there are narrow Circumstances: taking another position like a State Judge, becomming a Resident of another State, or dying. In New York, the Governor and Lt. Governor are on separate Primary Ballot positions, but are combined on One Ballot line in the General Election.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Hochul indicated Benjamin is unlikely to leave the State. The Governor acknowledged the Time line for Replacing Benjamin is constrained by the Political calendar. Early Voting begins June 18th and Absentee Ballots must be Printed and Mailed in the coming weeks.

"Right now the best option is to get the Legislature and ask them for their support for legislation to correct this deficiency in current law," she said.

State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D, 88th District, Westchester County), has indicated she will introduce a Bill that would allow for the Removal of Candidates facing Criminal Charges or a Terminal Illness. The Measure could gain a Senate Floor Vote. "I'm hoping we will," Paulin said on Tuesday. "I don't know for sure, but I'm hoping we will. We're certainly talking about it."

But Democratic Lawmakers who control the State Senate and Assembly, have been hesitant to support making Changes to the Election Law ahead of the June Primary Vote. "I really, really, really don't like to change rules in the middle of a process," Stewart-Cousins said. "It's certainly in the middle of an election. She did speak to me last night and we will continue the conversation. We'll talk about it."

Still, Stewart-Cousins did Not completely Rule out consideration of a Bill, which was yet to be introduced as of Tuesday afternoon. "She put it on the table in terms of having a conversation with my conference," Stewart-Cousins said.

Republicans blasted the Proposal as opportunistic. "For the past year Albany has been the corruption capital of the country and Democrats have sat idly by enabling this bad behavior. Now they want to go a step further, changing state law to protect their political interests," said Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt (R-62nd District). "Any Senator who supports this corrupt scheme will be held accountable by the voters of New York this November."










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