Albany Dems Plot to Stall Stefanik’s Replacement, Undercutting Trump’s House Majority

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In a move that has sparked intense political controversy, Albany lawmakers are considering delaying a special election to fill the soon-to-be vacated seat of Rep. Elise Stefanik, a key Republican ally of President Donald Trump. According to a report on Saturday in The New York Post, the Democratic-controlled New York State Assembly and Senate convened Friday to discuss potential changes to election law that would allow Governor Kathy Hochul to postpone filling the seat until at least June—or possibly even until the November general election.

The deliberations, which took place behind closed doors, were publicly framed as a cost-saving measure aimed at consolidating elections into a single voting day. However, as The New York Post report noted, the real political motive appears to be preventing an immediate Republican replacement for Stefanik, thereby compromising the already fragile Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rep. Stefanik is expected to resign in the coming days to assume her new role as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, a position for which Trump has tapped her. The New York Post report pointed out that her congressional district, which encompasses New York’s deep red North Country, is a stronghold for Republicans. If an election were held under current law, a GOP victory would be all but certain, allowing House Speaker Mike Johnson to maintain control of an already razor-thin 218-215 Republican majority.

However, should New York Democrats succeed in delaying the election, that crucial House seat would remain empty for months, effectively weakening the Republican ability to pass legislation. As The New York Post reported, Democrats in Albany have the votes to rewrite state election laws, as Republicans hold only a token presence in both chambers. Sources familiar with the discussions indicated that legislation to change election timing could be introduced as soon as Monday.

Under existing law, once Stefanik officially resigns, Governor Hochul is required to declare a special election within 10 days. That election must then take place between 80 and 90 days after the declaration. But as the report in The New York Post indicated, if Hochul and her allies in the legislature rewrite these rules, they could indefinitely stall the process, preventing Republicans from maintaining their slim majority.

Governor Hochul’s office, responding to inquiries from The New York Post, did not explicitly confirm whether she would support such a maneuver. A spokesperson, however, stated that she “believes it’s critical to increase voter turnout and reduce the cost of election administration and she would support legislation that achieves that goal.” This carefully worded response has done little to quell Republican fears of a deliberate power grab.

The reaction from New York Republicans has been one of outrage. Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-Western New York) decried the move as “the corruption of absolute power.” Speaking to The New York Post, Langworthy warned that delaying the election would set a dangerous precedent, allowing the majority party to manipulate election timing for partisan gain.

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-Rockland County) echoed those concerns, telling The New York Post, “This would be an outrageous abuse of power and expose Democrats’ hypocrisy when it comes to ‘protecting democracy.’ Kathy Hochul should make clear this will not happen.”

The New York Post report noted that Stefanik herself has not yet commented on the proposal. However, given her strong support for Trump and vocal opposition to Democratic policies, it is unlikely that she will remain silent should the legislature move forward with its plan.

With the Republican House majority already struggling to maintain control, The New York Post report emphasized that even a single vacancy could have a significant impact. Speaker Mike Johnson is facing ongoing challenges from both moderate and hard-right members, making the loss of a reliable GOP seat an immediate legislative liability.

Political analysts cited by The New York Post suggest that Democrats’ strategy may extend beyond New York. By weakening the Republican House majority through delayed elections, they may hope to stall key legislative initiatives backed by Trump—particularly on border security, tax cuts, and foreign policy measures.

The proposed delay also raises broader constitutional and ethical questions, as The New York Post report highlighted. Should states have the power to manipulate election timing based on political advantage? And if so, could similar tactics be used elsewhere to deprive voters of representation?

As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on Albany to see whether Democrats proceed with their legislative maneuvering. If they succeed it could set the stage for one of the most contentious election battles of 2024, further polarizing an already divided political landscape.