Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

November 21, 2025

What’s Inside

  • New Siena Poll Released
  • Governor Announces Staffing Changes
  • Congressmember Velazquez Announces Retirement
  • Assemblymember Smullen Announces Congressional Run
  • Assemblymember Pheffer Amato Not Seeking Reelection
  • Governor Announces Achievements for MWBEs
  • Governor Approves Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan Amendments
  • In the News
  • Coming Up

New Siena Poll Released

The Siena Research Institute released a new poll this week finding that Governor Hochul’s favorability and job approval ratings have both dropped by five points since September. In the Democratic primary, she leads Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado by a significant margin, 56% to 16%. In a general election matchup, she leads U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik by 20 points, 52% to 32%, which is a smaller lead than the 52% to 27% she had in September.​

Zohran Mamdani, the New York City Mayor-elect, has a 55% favorable rating and 31% unfavorable rating with city voters, and is evenly split statewide at 40%-40%, up from 30%-38% in September. Most city voters (57%) think Mamdani will be good for New York City, but many downstate suburban voters (51%-35%) and upstate voters (44%-38%) say he will be bad for the city.​

Statewide, voters overwhelmingly believe Mamdani and President Donald Trump won’t work together to improve life in New York, but a large majority think Mamdani and Hochul will work together. Senator Chuck Schumer now has his lowest favorability ever in the Siena poll: 32% favorable, 55% unfavorable.

The full poll crosstabs can be found here.

Governor’s Office Announces Staffing Changes

According to reports, two staffers in Governor Kathy Hochul’s office have taken on new roles. 

Cathleen Benjamin will serve as appointments secretary and the Director of the Office of Public Engagement, overseeing the intergovernmental affairs and constituency teams.

Shanna Cassidy, previously an assistant Secretary to the Governor, will now serve as the Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs.

Congressmember Velazquez Announces Retirement

This week, longtime U.S. Representative Nydia M. Velázquez, and the first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress, announced that she would not seek re-election in 2026, which would be the end of her 16th term. Rep. Velázquez has served in Congress for 32 years, first representing New York’s 12th Congressional District from 1993 to 2013 and then, due to redistricting, representing the 7th Congressional District since 2013. She cited a generational change for her decision to retire.

Governor Hochul issued a statement commending the Congresswoman for being a trailblazer and thanking her for her service.

In an interview with the New York Times, the Congresswoman said:

I love this work and I love my district, but I believe now is the right moment to step aside and allow a new generation of leaders to step forward. After devoting so much energy and so much time to help elect young leaders, I feel at ease.

Assemblymember Smullen Announces Congressional Run

Following U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik’s announcement that she will run for Governor of New York, State Assemblymember Robert Smullen, a Republican, launched a campaign for Congress to represent the North Country district she currently holds. Smullen is the first Republican to enter the race, though fellow Republican Joe Pinion announced this week that he is also considering a bid for the seat.

Assemblymember Pheffer Amato Not Seeking Reelection

On Monday, Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato announced she will not seek re-election in 2026. Pheffer Amato was first elected in 2016, representing the seat previously held by her mother for over 24 years, Queens County Clerk Audrey I. Pheffer.

Pheffer Amato said:

I love being in public service and representing the people of the 23rd Assembly District has been the honor of a lifetime. My team and I have built a seven-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year operation to make sure this district is well served and through that, I have had the joy of meeting with and delivering for thousands of our neighbors when they need help. But after 10 years in this position, it is time to move on and serve my community in other capacities. This district is a pure snapshot of NYS: we are diverse, hardworking, big hearted, and have…countless opinions on every topic. The people inspire me every day and have been the best part of this job. I am proud to be part of this wonderful community and proud of the work we have done together.

Read her full statement here. 

Governor Announces Achievements for MWBEs 

Governor Hochul has announced historic achievements for New York State’s Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Program as detailed in the newly released 2025 MWBE Annual Report. In Fiscal Year 2024–25, New York State disbursed $3.3 billion in payments to MWBEs — the highest statewide MWBE utilization spend in the history of the program — and achieved an estimated 31.86 percent utilization rate, marking the fifth consecutive year the State has met or exceeded its nation-leading 30 percent MWBE participation goal.

Earlier this year, Governor Hochul signed legislation raising the MWBE discretionary purchasing threshold to $1.5 million, further streamlining procurement and expanding contracting opportunities for certified MWBE firms across the State.

Governor Hochul said:

New York is leading the nation in uplifting minority- and women-owned businesses, and these results show what happens when we open doors to equal opportunity. With a record $3.3 billion in payments to MWBEs and a 31.86 percent utilization rate, we are proving — five years in a row — that equity and economic growth go hand in hand. By raising the discretionary purchasing threshold to $1.5 million and continuing to streamline certification, we are ensuring more MWBEs can compete, win, and thrive across our State.

More information can be found here. 

Governor Approves Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan Amendments

This week, Governor Hochul approved amendments to the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan (SLMP), which were recommended by the Adirondack Park Agency Board. The amendments will improve the protection and management of 2.9 million acres of public land in New York State’s Adirondack Park. The SLMP guides how state land within the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve can be used by the public and maintained and modified by the State through establishing different classes of protection.

According to the Governor’s office, the amendments further enhance the Adirondack Park Agency and Department of Environmental Conservation’s ability to:

  • Protect habitat and open space and protect recreation investments by addressing climate risks;
  • Improve public land and water access for persons with disabilities by identifying existing accessible infrastructure and assessing potential additions;
  • Support sustainable outdoor recreation by incorporating visitor use management into public land planning.

Governor Hochul said:

From providing clean drinking water to welcoming millions of visitors every year to enjoy the outdoors, the Adirondack Park is a national treasure and a symbol of New York’s environmental leadership. These amendments ensure that New York remains at the forefront of public land preservation and conservation for the benefit of New Yorkers today and tomorrow. By strengthening resilience and promoting sustainable recreation, we are safeguarding the Adirondacks for the next generation while preserving their wild character.

More information can be found here.

In The News

City & State NY’s weekly Winners and Losers of this week here.

$6M to help fund behavioral health crisis response teams across N.Y. state.

Stefanik, Hochul spar over reproductive health care.

Lawsuit seeks court order compelling NY to stop illicit marijuana sales.  

Hochul’s DOCCS commissioner defends Bare Hill prison closure as Republicans pounce.

Lawmakers: DOCCS pressuring Hochul to erode prison oversight bill.

Hochul: N.Y. task force created to crack down on retail theft has recovered more than $2.6M in stolen goods.

SNAP beneficiaries in New York seek clarity on benefits post-shutdown.

George Conway, a vocal foe of Trump, eyes Congressional run.

The “Mamdani revolution” comes for House Democrats.

Mamdani, Trump to meet on Friday, president says.

Adams boosts budget, leaving a $4.7 billion hole for Mamdani.

Hochul says Trump holding back HEAP money ‘matter of life and death’.

Linda Sun trial: FBI agents seized bundles of money, a Rolex watch, a pearl necklace and other items during probe, testimony shows.

Powerful NY Democratic Party chair Jay Jacobs plans to stay on despite dissing Zohran Mamdani.

Here are all the major bills still before the New York City Council.

N.Y. lawmakers discussing calls to change Raise the Age law.

Deputy Senate Majority Leader Mike Gianaris talks upcoming session, Hochul’s resistance to tax hikes on the wealthy and whether to revisit Raise the Age.

Coming Up

The Assembly will hold a public hearing to examine the role of Adult Protective Services in the prevention, detection, and intervention of financial exploitation committed against older adults on December 2.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing to examine the status of the behavioral health workforce on December 10.

The Senate will hold a public hearing to discuss risks, solutions, and best practices with respect to the use of artificial intelligence in consequential or high-risk contexts, and related issues, such as classification of the types and risk levels of AI uses, frameworks for auditing AI tools for bias, and transparency improvements on January 15.