The Legislature passed a bill that was quickly signed by the Governor authorizing candidate to remove themselves from the ballot in certain circumstances. The bill allows candidates remove their name from the ballot if they have been arrested and charged with state or federal misdemeanors or felonies, or have been convicted of a crime. Such a candidate would be required to file a form to remove themselves from the ballot. Brian Benjamin filed a form to remove his name from the ballot shortly after the bill was signed into law, allowing a committee to fill vacancies to designate an alternative candidate for Lieutenant Governor.

Hochul Announces New Lieutenant Governor

Governor Hochul announced her selection to fill the Lieutenant Governor vacancy created by Benjamin’s resignation. Antonio Delgado, popular congressman from the 19^th congressional district, was named as Benjamin’s replacement. Delgado will transition into the role of Lieutenant Governor and officially resign from congress with the next month, though the exact date is to be determined. It is unclear when or if a special election to fill the vacant congressional seat will be held.

The choice of Delgado was received with mixed reviews. Delgado is a popular Democrat in a purple congressional district with a bi-partisan track record. Many viewed the choice as a good addition to the Governor’s ticket. Others derided the choice as detracting from Democratic prospects of retaining a majority in the U.S. House, by removing a popular incumbent from a district that could potentially flip.

The committee to fill vacancies also chose Delgado to replace Benjamin on the ballot in response to the bill passed by the legislature earlier in the week.

Representative Delgado said:

Governor Announces AFL-CIO President Appointed to the Climate Action Council

The Governor announced the appointment of Mario Cilento, President of the NYS AFL-CIO, as the newest member of the State’s Climate Action Council, which is tasked with finalizing a Scoping Plan with recommended policies and actions to help New York meet its climate goals as part of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The Governor had previously committed to including a representative from labor.

The 22-member Climate Action Council released a Draft Scoping Plan to implement New York’s climate law last year for public review and comment beginning Jan. 1, 2022. The Council is currently holding 11 public hearings, including nine in-person across the State, as well as two virtual hearings. All persons, organizations, corporations, and government agencies are encouraged to attend the public hearings and to submit oral or written comments. Equal weight will be given to oral and written statements. The public hearing schedule and pre-registration for in-person or virtual hearings can be found on the Climate Act website.

Written comments can be submitted through June 10, 2022, via the online public comment form, via email to [email protected], or via U.S. Mail to Attention: Draft Scoping Plan Comments, NYSERDA, 17 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203-6399.

Governor Hochul said:

Assembly District Maps Challenged

Two separate challenges to New York’s Assembly district maps were filed this week. The first, filed by New York Young Republican Club President Gavin Wax, seeks to invalidate the Assembly maps based on the Court of Appeals ruling that they could not also invalidate the Assembly maps only because they were not challenged. The first challenge is scheduled for a hearing on May 10.

The second challenge, filed by Child Victims Act advocate Gary Greenberg, seeks to invalidate the Assembly maps. In addition, Greenberg specifically requests in his lawsuit that the Court:

• Delay the primary election date for the Assembly from June 28 to August 23, 2022 to allow the Special Master time to redraw voting districts in accordance with the New York State Constitution;
• Enjoin the mailing of Assembly ballots for military personnel serving overseas until July 8, 2022;
• Invalidate petitions submitted by existing candidates for any office, including for the New York State Assembly and Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and State-wide offices, for any petition containing signatories who fall outside the newly drawn districts; and
• Re-open a petitioning period for every race, including for the New York State Assembly and Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and for state-wide offices such as Governor and Attorney, allowing new candidates to seek office based on the newly drawn election districts.