New York Lawmakers Halt Bill to Delay Special Election for Stefanik’s Seat Amid Backlash

Yesterday, New York State Senator Joe Griffo, Assemblymen Blankenbush and Smullen, along with Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr., issued a joint release sharply criticizing efforts to delay the special election for New York’s 21st Congressional District. The district was left vacant following Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s appointment to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

The release comes after significant public outcry, which led the Governor and legislative majorities to pause the controversial legislation that had prompted these concerns. However, the officials involved in the statement maintain that the bill should be stricken outright, as they believe it threatens to disenfranchise nearly 800,000 residents in the district.

“New Yorkers know better,” the release asserts. “Despite claims that the bill will save money and encourage voter participation, the reality is that state budgets remain unsustainable, and voter turnout has not substantially increased, even with past changes to election laws.”

At the core of the criticism is what the officials characterize as a politically motivated effort that seeks to score partisan points at the expense of the district’s residents. They argue that this bill limits access to essential services, resources, and support for the communities of the 21st District, while also hindering representation on key national defense matters, such as those affecting the Air Force Research Lab in Rome and Fort Drum in Jefferson County.

The bill in question, introduced by New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, proposed that the governor could delay a special election until the next general election if the vacancy occurred within the same calendar year. Under this legislation, the special election for the 21st Congressional District seat would have been postponed until November 2025, potentially leaving the district without representation in Congress for months.

The delay was met with immediate backlash from Republican lawmakers and local officials, who described the move as a politically motivated attempt to prevent a Republican victory in the special election. Griffo, Blankenbush, Smullen, and Picente Jr. highlighted how critical representation is, particularly for national defense assets such as the Air Force Research Lab and Fort Drum. “Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s nomination has already passed through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is expected to be confirmed,” they pointed out. “Further delaying the special election for her seat is completely unnecessary and harms the constituents by denying them representation in Congress.”

The special election process has existed for over 100 years, with the expectation that vacancies will be filled promptly to ensure ongoing representation. This latest push for delay was seen as a political maneuver designed to impede the replacement process, particularly since the seat is viewed as key to maintaining a Republican majority in the House.

In response to the public outcry and bipartisan opposition, Governor Kathy Hochul intervened to halt the bill’s progress. She urged legislative leaders to delay its passage, recognizing the growing concerns over disenfranchisement. As a result, the proposed legislation was shelved, and the special election process for the 21st Congressional District will continue as originally planned.

Griffo, Blankenbush, Smullen, and Picente Jr. have continued to call for the bill to be permanently removed from the legislative agenda, emphasizing the importance of swift and fair representation. Their position underscores the need to prioritize the voices of voters in the 21st District over partisan politics, ensuring that the people of the district are not left without a voice in Congress.