New Yorkers Vote on Governor and Congress

New York State voters are casting ballots this Tuesday to select their next governor, state comptroller, and attorney general. The election day also determines the outcome of five competitive races for the U.S. House of Representatives. Ballots vary by location, meaning the specific offices and judicial seats appear on the ticket depend on each voter’s registered county and district. All registered voters in the state can participate in the statewide races for executive offices. Local contests for city council and municipal judges are also on the ballot in many areas.

The gubernatorial race pits incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. Blakeman, a Republican, campaigned on lowering income taxes and utility bills. He also opposes sanctuary city policies and the state’s moratorium on new data centers. Blakeman, who won his county office in 2021, criticized Hochul’s tenure during the campaign. He stated, “No podemos permitirnos cuatro años más de Kathy Hochul.”

In the attorney general race, incumbent Letitia James faces Republican challenger Saritha Komatireddy. James, who has held the post since 2019, focuses on illegal firearms, immigrant rights, and predatory lending practices. She has filed more than 50 lawsuits against the Trump administration. Komatireddy, a former U.S. deputy attorney general in Brooklyn, proposes increasing prosecutions for street crimes and auditing homeless shelters. She also plans to investigate potential waste and fraud in both public and private sectors.

The comptroller contest features incumbent Tom DiNapoli and Republican Joseph Hernandez. DiNapoli, who has served since 2007, aims to direct the state pension fund toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The fund currently holds $291 billion. Hernandez, a Wall Street investor and Cuban-born refugee, proposes creating a $10 billion Empire Opportunities Fund. This fund would support emerging industries using a model similar to a sovereign wealth fund.

Five congressional districts in New York feature head-to-head Democratic and Republican matchups. In the 17th District, incumbent Mike Lawler defends his seat against Cait Conley. Lawler, who entered Congress in 2022, supports expanding the state and local tax deduction. Conley, a former counterterrorism director for the Biden administration, advocates for public healthcare options and a path to citizenship. In the 3rd District, Democrat Tom Suozzi faces Republican Mike LiPetri. Suozzi opposes Trump-era tariffs and the Iran war, while LiPetri supports deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

The 4th District race sees incumbent Laura Gillen facing Jeanine Driscoll. Gillen supports extending temporary protected status for Haitians and opposing Medicaid cuts. Driscoll, the Hempstead tax collector, proposes restoring the full state and local tax deduction and strengthening the U.S.-Mexico border. In the 1st District, Republican Nick LaLota competes against Democrat Christopher Gallant. LaLota, a former Navy officer, seeks to lower taxes and deport certain undocumented immigrants. Gallant, a former Air Traffic Control union president, proposes building housing near transit hubs and refinancing student loans.

The 11th District contest involves incumbent Republican Nicole Malliotakis and Democrat Mike DeCillis. Malliotakis, first elected in 2020, prioritizes funding for Homeland Security and ICE. She also proposes a temporary suspension of the federal gasoline tax. DeCillis, a former police officer and lifeguard, proposes raising corporate taxes and establishing a single-payer healthcare system. Polling places in New York and other states close at varying times, requiring voters to check local schedules.