News: POLITICO New York Playbook: A good night to be backed by establishment Dems

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

POLITICO New York Playbook: A good night to be backed by establishment Dems

Aug 24, 2022

By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Julian Shen-Berro

Presented by NextEra Energy

The big winners coming out of yesterday's primaries: Rep. Jerry Nadler, who walloped fellow Rep. Carolyn Maloney in the Manhattan district they got squeezed into. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who decisively defeated a primary challenger after roiling his fellow Democrats in a redistricting fight. The DCCC, which can use a special election victory by Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan to reset campaign narratives this fall. Here's where we are the morning after New York's second primary:

— NY-12: A match billed as a clash of titans turned into a rout, with Nadler declared the victor over Carolyn Maloney shortly after polls closed. Nadler had emerged as the frontrunner in the East Side-West Side battle ahead of primary day, but the margin was more decisive than many expected at 55 to 24 percent.

— NY-10: The race was called after midnight for Trump impeachment lawyer Dan Goldman. He earned 26 percent of the vote in the crowded race for a vacant Manhattan and Brooklyn seat created by redistricting. Goldman was narrowly trailed by Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou with 24 percent, who said earlier in the evening she would not concede until every vote was counted.

— NY-17: As DCCC chair, Sean Patrick Maloney might not be the most popular Democrat in the delegation right now, but resources and connections carried the 5-term congressman to a quick, decisive victory over state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, which was called less than an hour after the polls closed.

Democratic candidate Pat Ryan, right, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appear on stage together during a campaign rally.

Democratic candidate Pat Ryan, right, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appear on stage together during a campaign rally for Ryan, Aug. 22, 2022, in Kingston, N.Y. | Mary Altaffer/AP Photo

— NY-23: State GOP Chair Nick Langworthy closed a gap between him and Western New York politician Carl Paladino as results rolled in over several hours, and declared victory around midnight. "Tonight the Southern Tier made me the comeback kid," he said during a speech painting himself as the "decent, stable, honest" candidate voters want. Paladino did not concede.

— NY-19 special: Democratic Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan won the special election for the remainder of Rep.-turned-Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado's term. Ryan led Republican Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro with 51 percent of the vote when the race was called.

IT'S WEDNESDAY. Got tips, suggestions or thoughts? Let us know ... By email: EDurkin@politico.com and agronewold@politico.com, or on Twitter: @erinmdurkin and @annagronewold

WHERE'S KATHY? Making remarks with ATF Director Steven Dettelbach and Adams Ahead of Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns Meeting, making an announcement and touring the New York State Fair, and appearing on "Capital Tonight."

WHERE'S ERIC? Signing property tax legislation, speaking at the gun taskforce meeting, taking a walking tour of Roosevelt Island, holding a community safety event with Assemblymember Jennifer Rajkumar and a conversation on public safety on Staten Island.

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NextEra Energy, the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun, and a global leader in battery storage, is committing to the most ambitious carbon-emissions-reduction goal ever set by an energy producer, Real Zero™. Learn more.

CAMPAIGN MODE

Nadler topples Maloney, ending fellow House Democrat's 30-year tenure, by POLITICO's Danielle Muoio Dunn, Sally Goldenberg and Julian Shen-Berro: Rep. Jerry Nadler successfully defended his seat in Manhattan's newly drawn 12th Congressional District, capping off a competitive Democratic primary that pushed the 30-year member of the House of Representatives into a faceoff against his crosstown colleague, Rep. Carolyn Maloney. The result ended a cutthroat campaign that forced two powerful committee chairs to duke it out for their final years in Congress. The new district combines Manhattan's West Side — which has reliably backed Nadler for decades — with the East Side that Maloney has represented for just as long. Suraj Patel, a 38-year-old attorney, positioned himself as a fresh alternative to his septuagenarian rivals.

Rep. Jerry Nadler speaks during his election night victory party in the Democratic primary election, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, in New York.

Rep. Jerry Nadler speaks during his election night victory party in the Democratic primary election, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, in New York. | John Minchillo/AP Photo

Dan Goldman wins free-for-all New York House seat, by POLITICO's Erin Durkin, Joe Anuta and Janaki Chadha: Former federal prosecutor Dan Goldman beat a crowded field of Democrats vying for a new congressional seat in Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. Goldman was counsel to House Democrats during the first impeachment of former President Donald Trump, and leaned on that experience heavily in campaign ads and forums by casting himself as a candidate with unique investigative chops that could be trained on the GOP. He unseated Rep. Mondaire Jones, who sought reelection far from his current suburban district north of the city as a result of the state's chaotic redistricting process. Goldman also bested New York Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou and City Council Member Carlina Rivera.

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney routs progressive challenger in heated New York primary, by POLITICO's Anna Gronewold: Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney prevailed Tuesday in the primary for the newly drawn 17th congressional district in New York, despite a spirited challenge from the party's progressive wing and disapproval from a host of his peers. His victory over state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi in the Hudson Valley district, called less than an hour after polls closed, was a blow to the left, which has criticized Maloney's actions as Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair while the party prepares for a bitter fight for control of the House this fall. His win is also a flex of strength for the establishment wing of the party that lined up to back him.

"Langworthy claims slim victory, though Paladino won't concede," by Buffalo News' Stephen T. Watson and Charlie Specht: "After two decades of managing elections for other Republicans, Nicholas A. Langworthy claimed victory of his own early this morning, even if by the narrowest of margins over Carl P. Paladino for the GOP nomination in the 23rd Congressional District. Langworthy, the state Republican chairman and endorsed candidate, rode a wave of Southern Tier support to catch up to Paladino's overwhelming strength in Erie County and stake his claim to the GOP line for the Nov. 8 general election. Indeed, the outcome ranked as an official cliffhanger until the end, and remained in dispute early this morning as Paladino refused to concede until all absentee ballots are tabulated. But elections officials say a new procedure that counts the majority of absentees and other outstanding ballots on Primary Night means only a handful of still-to-arrive votes must be tallied."

Democrat Ryan wins bellwether special election in New York's Hudson Valley, by POLITICO's Bill Mahoney: The race in the battleground district, which had been represented by Democrat Antonio Delgado until he left to become New York's lieutenant governor in May, saw both candidates focus their messaging on the issues that will dominate each party's talking points in November. Ryan's television ads hammered on the need to elect a representative who would fight for abortion rights in the wake of the Supreme Court's June decision undoing Roe v. Wade, while Molinaro's campaign centered on crime and inflation. It's the latest in a string of recent House special elections in which Democrats have outperformed recent baseline numbers in the districts.

"New York Democrat Jamaal Bowman latest 'Squad' member to survive moderate primary challenge," by Fox News' Brandon Gillespie: "Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., has become the latest member of the far-left 'Squad' to survive a primary challenge from a more moderate member of Democratic Party. He faced off Tuesday against Westchester County legislator Vedat Gashi in a closely watched Democratic primary for New York's newly drawn 16th Congressional District that saw the latter's staunch support for Israel draw a high-profile endorsement from former Democrat Congressman Eliot Engel."

" Max Rose wins Democratic primary in NY-11 to challenge Rep. Nicole Malliotakis in November," by New York Daily News: "Former Congressman Max Rose is back on the ballot after winning the Democratic primary in New York's 11th district on Tuesday night, fighting off progressive challenger Brittany Ramos DeBarros, according to the Associated Press. NY-11 represents Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn, and Rose's win means a rematch against the person who beat him in the latest election: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), who recently scored an endorsement from former President Donald Trump."

" Republican Wins Special House Election in Rural New York," by The New York Times' Nicholas Fandos : "Joe Sempolinski, a local Republican Party leader and former congressional aide, won a special election on Tuesday for a vacant House seat in western New York, according to The Associated Press, keeping the sprawling rural district under Republican control. The race was surprisingly close, but Mr. Sempolinski was ultimately able to capitalize on his deep Republican Party ties in one of the most conservative regions of the state to repel a Democratic challenge by Max Della Pia, an Air Force veteran."

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.

WHAT ALBANY'S READING

"Kristen González Declares Victory in Queens Senate Primary, While Incumbents Hold On," by THE CITY's Claudia Irizarry Aponte, George Joseph, Jonathan Custodio and Katie Honan: "Kristen González, a political newcomer backed by the Democratic Socialists of America and prominent lawmakers on the left including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, declared victory against Elizabeth Crowley in a state Senate race to represent a swath of western Queens and Brooklyn and a chunk of Manhattan's East Side. Her projected victory came even as she was outraised by hundreds of thousands of dollars by Crowley, a more moderate Democrat who is a cousin of the ex-head of the county's Democratic party, former U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley — infamously defeated in 2018 by then-unknown Ocasio-Cortez."

"Bronx Sen. Gustavo Rivera wins dramatic primary as New York progressives set to grow ranks in Albany ," by New York Daily News' Denis Slattery: "Sen. Gustavo Rivera declared victory Tuesday night following a dramatic primary campaign that saw his own party back a more moderate challenger in the Democratic contest. Rivera was fighting for his political life after the powerful Bronx Democratic Party sided with lawyer Miguelina Camilo over the incumbent following a messy redistricting process. 'Against a flood of special interest money — from real estate, from charter schools, and from right-wing Trump donors — and against every effort by the Bronx Democratic Party machine, we prevailed,' Rivera said in a statement. 'And we prevailed because Bronxites know that the Bronx is not for sale.'"

State Senate Democrats appear to fend off primary challenges, by POLITICO's Bill Mahoney: Every member of the state Senate's Democratic majority who faced a primary opponent Tuesday appeared well-positioned to fend off their upstart challengers. That includes Sen. Jabari Brisport. One of his opponents, pastor Conrad Tillard, had been endorsed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams despite a history of anti-Jewish comments. Brisport, a democratic socialist from Brooklyn, led Tillard 70 percent to 15 percent with 94 percent of the votes counted. Sen. Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan) led challenger Angel Vasquez — who had the backing of Rep. Adriano Espaillat in a Manhattan seat — by about 20 percentage points with most districts reporting.

🀠HAPPY ANNIVERSARY 🀦lt;/strong>

Today marks one year since Hochul took the governor's office after Andrew Cuomo gave his two weeks notice amid sexual harassment allegations. She's celebrating by going to the State Fair.

Looking back, she's been busy. Her office noted that when she became governor, "the COVID-19 Delta variant was spreading, schools were working on plans to get children back in school, two hurricanes would devastate communities in our state, and New Yorkers were experiencing a crisis of confidence in their government and elected leaders."

But her office also says that Hochul's since rallied a new, women-driven team to run the executive chamber; advanced the state's Covid-19 response; passed a state budget (a few days late); put money in state savings, led during times of crisis, including a mass shooting in her hometown; and worked to combat the consequences for New Yorkers of U.S. Supreme Court rulings on guns and reproductive health.

Looking forward, she's got another election to win, and she's got a good chance at doing that, by current look of things. A poll conducted between Aug. 17 and Aug. 22 by SurveyUSA on behalf of WNYT-TV in Albany gave her a 24-point lead over GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin in the coming November contest. — Anna Gronewold

#UpstateAmerica: Opening Day of the 2022 New York State Fair arrived less than three months after Sean Hennessey suddenly found himself in charge of it. People are really into it, he discovered, but he wants a wider audience.

A message from NextEra Energy:

What City Hall's reading

Why New York Democrats can't agree on bail reform, by POLITICO's Erin Durkin and Katelyn Cordero: By former cop and Democratic Mayor Eric Adams' account, New York is teeming with career criminals who are reoffending in record numbers, after nation-leading reforms eliminated cash bail for most crimes in the state. But Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders say few defendants freed pending trial go on to reoffend, while scores more are spared the city's festering jails — thanks to the new laws heralded by progressives and accepted by some moderates. The dispute has become irreconcilable, a near-daily point of disagreement between two powerful Democrats. And it's largely driven by one thing: The sides are relying on fundamentally different data.

"MTA upgrades delayed by COVID-19 pandemic threatens to let mass transit fall into disrepair: report," by amNewYork's Kevin Duggan: "The MTA's aging mass transit system is in danger of falling into disrepair because the agency is behind on its multi-billion-dollar plans to modernize infrastructure, according to a report released Tuesday. At the current rate, according to the Citizen Budget Commission, the MTA is on pace to fall short by $28 billion on upgrades out of $53 billion in planned projects that they want to complete by the end of 2024, such as new subway signals and train car stock, the fiscal watchdog warned in an Aug. 23 review."

" De Blasio, Red Sox Lover, Heads to Harvard," by The New York Times' Jeffery C. Mays: "Bill de Blasio, the former mayor of New York City who made no secret of being a fan of the Boston Red Sox, will become a visiting teaching fellow at Harvard University in the fall. Mr. de Blasio, who flirted with running for governor and then for Congress, said his new position would allow him to pass on the lessons he had learned in creating universal prekindergarten and dealing with a deadly pandemic as mayor of the country's most populous city. The former mayor will be a visiting fellow at both the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. During his time as a fellow, Mr. de Blasio will focus on issues such as early childhood education and leading through a pandemic, which the former mayor considers the 'bookends' of his eight years in office. … The mayor, who grew up in Massachusetts, will remain a New Yorker, continuing to live in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope."

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AROUND NEW YORK

— An Oklahoma teacher was suspended for giving students information about the Brooklyn Public Library's initiative to let teens access banned books.

— The wife in a prominent Rochester couple accused of hosting a racist Juneteenth parody party said she ran a racist Twitter account. 

— Former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano won't start his 12-year prison term this week after a federal court granted him a stay.

— New York City's jobless rate continues to lag the rest of the state

SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: CNN's David Gregory … CBS' Major Garrett is 6-0 … Nick Denton … Galia Slayen … James Gordon Meek … Natalie Strom of Edelman … The New Yorker's Adam Gopnik … Michael Moynihan … Errol Louis is 6-0 … Seyward Darby of The Atavist Magazine … Rabbi J. David Bleich ... Dakota Jackson ... J. Philip Rosen ... Marvin Krislov ... Jonathan E. Aviv (h/ts Jewish Insider)

WHAT WALL STREET IS READING — " Julian Robertson, Hedge-Fund Guru to 'Tiger Cubs,' Dies," by Bloomberg's Katherine Burton, Hema Parmar and David Henry

A message from NextEra Energy:

NextEra Energy, an industry leader in low-cost renewable energy, announced its Real Zero™ goal to eliminate carbon emissions from its operations while enhancing reliability, resiliency, affordability and cost certainty for the many customer groups it serves. Learn more.

Real Estate

"Rent regulation threat sparks red scare among real estate," by The Real Deal's Suzannah Cavanaugh: "Belkin's post resonated with brokers and investors, who foretold that the policies would bring consequences ranging from higher insurance and mortgage rates all the way to socialized housing. WE Capital principal Steven Weinstock hypothesized that lawmakers' intent was to create 'government-approved landlords.' And Michael Anton of Marcus & Millichap capped the thread with, 'Fight the communists.' In truth, the bills would probably have less impact than commenters think. Even in a worst-case scenario, greater regulation would likely shift buildings to institutional owners, not the government. But the reaction on LinkedIn shows that the 2019 rent stabilization law, Covid-era tenant protections, new rent control laws and the threat of good cause eviction, the industry remains on high alert for any sign of free-market meddling."

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