New York State Assembly election endorsements overview

The New York State Assembly has had such a lopsided Democratic majority for so long that there is no suspense over which party wins the majority, just over which coalition will dominate the agenda.

In 2022, the split between the major parties in Albany’s lower chamber was 107 to 43. Republicans as part of the red wave of discontent that November picked up five seats, making the partisan totals 102 to 48. But this still left Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) in command of a veto-proof two-thirds majority.

There are policy tensions among leftists, progressives and moderates and, relevantly for Long Island, between urban and suburban districts. Nassau and Suffolk counties remain an important base for the Republican caucus headed by Will Barclay from the upstate village of Pulaski. That requires local legislators to be nimble in making alliances with Democrats who are the only route to getting their bills to the floor for a vote.

On Long Island now, 14 of 22 Assembly seats belong to Republicans. Democrats in a blue state like New York are always confident that a presidential election brings majority turnout and lifts their chances in races down-ballot. Deputy Majority Leader Michaelle Solages, an Elmont Democrat, notes several regional seats the party is looking to flip or retain to boost suburban muscle.

Voters who cast ballots for the top elected positions but don’t proceed further to other races forfeit a chance for local impact. As before, key issues include important changes to how Albany funds schools, incentives to increase the housing supply, criminal justice policies, and how to fund and maintain our mass transit system.

For the legislative session beginning in January, climate change and its consequences should get intensive discussion and debate, especially on the topic of renewable energy. To slash pernicious carbon emissions, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act mandates that the state derive 70% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. Yet, school districts say meeting the goal of a fully electric fleet of buses by 2035 is impossible under current rules and conditions.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has already acknowledged the challenging question of just what green-energy changes are affordable to the state and its taxpayers, which could depend to some degree on how quickly they must be made. The Public Service Commission says the 70% goal can’t happen until at least 2033. The Business Council of New York State would like the whole plan redone.

The ramping up of electric bus manufacture, the approval of wind generators, lithium battery safety, solar and nuclear power, and nitrogen technology will have their own places in sorting out the plans. There are many moving parts to this sprawling work in progress, and the time to act is short.

Of course, how to deal with these climate goals and timelines will depend not only on input from the Assembly but also from the Democratic-dominated State Senate and Hochul’s office. It’s one area where nonpartisan practicalities must take precedence, and your say can come through these smallest units of elected state government.