Democrats introduced legislation late Friday that would allow them to significantly delay expected special elections, triggering a formal call for a racketeering investigation by Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY).
The move is meant to jam up House Republicans whose already razor thin majority would shrink further – and for longer – when North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) resigns to serve in President Trump‘s administration as UN ambassador.
The legislation, which could come up for a vote as soon as Monday, allows Gov. Kathy Hochul to set the special election date as the November general election.
Hochul signaled earlier this week that she is on board with the effort which sources say is largely being driven by House Minority Leader and Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jefferies (D-NY).
“Shame on Hakeem Jeffries and Kathy Hochul for conspiring to deny residents of New York’s 21st Congressional District representation. This blatantly corrupt power grab reeks of racketeering and internationally subverts the will of voters in the North Country,” Lawler said.
Lawler has sent a formal letter to Trump’s Department of Justice asking for a racketeering probe into Hochul as well as state Sen. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins (D-Westchester) and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx).
“Their scheme to alter the schedule for the special election is a serious abuse of power that is more alike to election processes in authoritarian countries than anything we see in the United States,” the letter reads, calling Democrats’ scheme “textbook racketeering.”
Lawler is joined by Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Nick Langworthy (R-NY) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) on the letter.
“This is a shameless, brazenly corrupt scheme to disenfranchise 750,000 New Yorkers and block President Trump’s agenda. The federal Department of Justice needs to investigate Governor Hochul and both legislative leaders,” Assemblyman Matt Slater (R-Putnam), the ranking member on the elections committee, told The Post.
Stefanik’s timeline for a confirmation vote in the US Senate is unclear, so it’s not yet known when she would resign and create the vacancy.
Under current state law, the governor must designate a special election date within 10 days of a vacancy. That date must be between 70 and 80 days later.
Democrats claim the move is meant to increase government efficiency.
“At a time when people need our government to work more efficiently, this legislation is a common-sense approach that saves taxpayer dollars while maximizing voter turnout,” Senate Democratic Majority Spokesperson Mike Murphy wrote in a statement to The Post.
“This bill isn’t about fairness, democracy, or saving money. This is the Democrats telling the voters of New York to go to hell,” Senate Majority Leader Rob Ortt (R-NY).
“These shameless Albany politicians can’t win on their disastrous policies like sky-high crime, out-of-control taxes, or an illegal migrant crisis they created, so they’re resorting to using Albany swamp tactics,” Ortt continued.
The law would also apply to state Senate and Assembly elections.
A vacancy is currently expected to open up in southern Brooklyn after state Sen. Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn) resigns to run for city council.
Felder’s seat presents a potential pickup opportunity for Republicans.
Republicans and other opponents of the Democrats have also promised to sue over the move.
