Tuesday, September 10, 2024

What about 2026?

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Sep 10, 2024 View in browser
 
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By Nick Reisman, Jeff Coltin and Emily Ngo

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A general view of the U.S. Capitol Building is shown.

The path to power in the House runs through New York. | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

NEW YORK MINUTE: Expect federal scrutiny of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ closest aides to dominate questions posed today by reporters in Adams’ first off-topic news conference since the latest wave of FBI raids.

The mayor is set to field those queries remotely since he has tested positive for Covid — and will likely face questions about what POLITICO was first to report Monday — the expected departure of his police commissioner, Edward Caban. — Emily Ngo

KEEP PARTYING: New York Democrats are building a voter outreach and campaign infrastructure they want to last beyond Election Day on Nov. 5.

It would be a major change from a long-held practice in New York Democratic politics — and one that comes as the party fears its toehold on statewide power is starting to slip.

Now the party is marshaling labor unions, progressive advocates and longtime operatives to flip five House seats in the state through an aggressive field operation this cycle.

All of this comes on top of the state Democratic Committee’s coordinating operation, which has recruited volunteers and opened offices around the state — an effort Gov. Kathy Hochul has repeatedly touted.

The challenge after Nov. 5 — if Democrats are successful — is to hold any gains in 2026.

Some consultants who have worked in state Democratic politics want to keep an eye on the future as well.

“It’s great and I think it will help,” Tim Fullerton, a consultant and the state’s former chief digital officer, told Playbook. “What I haven’t seen yet is how does this look post-Election Day? What we need to be doing is building our power now.”

In past cycles, state Democrats have failed to build on voter data efforts and follow through on using digital tools like email and social media, he said.

Fullerton believes New York Democrats need to model the party off what Wisconsin Democrats have been able to do: An ongoing and ever-evolving effort to track Democratic voters using data, while also organizing for the long term.

“We need organizing power in the Democratic Party,” he said. “What is the plan for all of this data that’s going to be collected in these House battles?”

But Democrats working on sweeping efforts in the state believe they have an answer.

Battleground New York, the Democratic-allied committee aiding down-ballot candidates, announced it raised $10.6 million as of Sept. 6 — exceeding its fundraising goal for the cycle.

The group, composed of labor unions like 1199SEIU, 32BJ and the CWA, also announced it collected more than 15,000 voter registration cards.

Offices in Long Island and Hudson Valley swing districts have been opened as well.

Battleground has been targeting voters who may have stayed home in 2022 when the party lost key House seats — and the majority — in the closely divided chamber.

It’s an effort organizers expect can be expanded upon once the dust settles this year.

“The nearly $11 million we’ve raised proves two things: we can accomplish big things by working with partners across the Big Blue tent from center to left — and that door-to-door still wins the war,” said Amit S. Bagga, a Democratic consultant and donor organizer for Battleground New York and Democracy Alliance. “This approach has driven our fundraising, will drive us to victory in November, and serve as a model of cooperation across labor, donors, and community networks into the future.”

Republicans, meanwhile, have their own ground-game strategy.

Rep. Elise Stefanik has touted the muscular effort to aid GOP freshmen in tight races with field offices and millions of dollars in campaign cash from the National Republican Congressional Committee.

NRCC spokesperson Savannah Viar told Playbook the GOP “is fully invested” in a turnout operation in New York.

"Our unprecedented program includes offices, full-time staff and a get-out-the-vote operation unparalleled to anything we've ever done before,” she said. “These efforts will bring success this November once again." — Nick Reisman

IT’S Tuesday. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.

 

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WHERE’S KATHY? In Warren County and New York City, with no public events scheduled.

WHERE’S ERIC? Holding a virtual media availability.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The proper forum to debate congestion pricing is the political realm — including, ultimately, ‘at the voting machine’ — not the courts.” — Attorneys for Gov. Kathy Hochul in a court filing responding to advocates who say she is legally required to launch congestion pricing, Gothamist reports.

ABOVE THE FOLD

Jasmine Gripper and Ana María Archila pose together.

The New York Working Families Party is trying to preserve its ballot status after this election. | Courtesy of Rynn Reed

KEEP PARTYING TOO: At least 2 percent of New York voters need to pick Kamala Harris on the Working Families Party line for the progressive party to keep its automatic ballot access.

So with a series of presidential debate watch parties across the state tonight and a launch video first in Playbook, the party is kicking off a campaign to get people to vote for Democrats on the WFP line in November.

Voters can do two things, state party co-director Jasmine Gripper told Playbook: “participate in our election and help defeat Trump and stop the MAGA movement” and “send a message to Democrats.”

Gripper pointed to the Israel-Hamas war, noting the distance between mainstream Democratic politicians and the WFP, which has called for a cease-fire since October. The war “is wildly unpopular. And no other major party is speaking to people’s discontent,” Gripper said.

Many voters are frustrated with the two-party system, added co-director Ana María Archila. “Our pitch is to use our line to express your frustration and send a message.”

The state party plans to spend at least $1 million promoting the line, making half a million calls, sending 2 million text messages and knocking on thousands of doors, they said.

It’s not just Harris, but Democratic House candidates including Josh Riley, Rep. Pat Ryan and state Sen. John Mannion. In the districts they’re vying for, voters on the WFP line could be the difference in a close race.

The party got just 1.8 percent of the statewide vote in 2016, before “our dear friend Andrew Cuomo left us with a gift of raising the threshold” to 2 percent in an effort to hurt the party, Gripper noted.

But the WFP upped its game, winning 4.5 percent in the 2020 presidential, and 4.4 percent with Hochul in 2022. — Jeff Coltin

CITY HALL: THE LATEST

the models at this Gracie Mansion show will be older, and possibly wiser, than those at this NY Kids Fashion Weekend event on June 17, 2023.

The models at this Gracie Manaion show will be older, and possibly wiser, than those at this NY Kids Fashion Weekend event. | NYC Mayor's Office

MODEL BEHAVIOR: While Adams recuperates from COVID (and political headaches) at Gracie Mansion, elected officials and political players will be walking the runway in his backyard, dressed by designers.

The first Style Across the Aisle fashion show is this afternoon. in It’s an effort to promote local designers, raise money for the Gracie Mansion Conservancy and boost bipartisanship.

“The whole narrative is shitting on the mayor, and this event is about bringing us together,” said “the Political Personality” Skye Ostreicher, who organized the event. People “see this one is being indicted, this one is being corrupt, this one is being investigated … so my thing is let’s elevate the good that’s going on.”

Tickets were $1,000 for the sold-out event, and models include Borough Presidents Vanessa Gibson and Mark Levine, state Sens. Kevin Parker and Robert Jackson and Council Members Justin Brannan and Vickie Paladino.

“Fashion Week is for real models. These are ROLE models,” Ostreicher quipped.

Adams’ Chief Adviser and fashionista Ingrid Lewis-Martin is emceeing. And while Adams wasn’t expected to walk, even before his quarantine, Ostreicher jokingly predicted that he’ll wave from the second floor. — Jeff Coltin

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROTESTERS: A half dozen climate activists with Planet over Profit jumped on stage and disrupted a speech Monday by City Comptroller Brad Lander, calling on him to divest from asset managers like BlackRock and KKR, which continues to invest in fossil fuels. (WATCH)

That’s the same group that got arrested disrupting Adams’ April speech to the Association for a Better New York.

Why protest Lander, who’s challenging the mayor from the left?

“I think it’s great we’re seeing more progressive candidates going against Eric Adams. That also means they actually have to live up to their progressive values, and stand up for people’s futures,” Planet over Profit’s Roni Zahavi-Brunner told Playbook.

Zahavi-Brunner said security escorting her out of Lander’s speech to the Council of Institutional Investors’ Fall conference at the Brooklyn Marriott pushed her against a door and broke her collarbone.

In a statement, Lander said the city’s pension funds “are proud to be the first (and unfortunately, still the only) large U.S. public pension fund to divest from fossil fuels,” adding that he’ll keep “aggressively pushing” their asset managers “to accelerate their plans for climate transition” and he’ll count on “climate justice groups to keep aggressively pushing us.” — Jeff Coltin

More from the city:

Terence Banks, the brother of two top Adams officials who is now ensnared in a federal corruption probe, started his political consulting firm while still drawing a salary from the MTA. (Daily News)

The feds are eyeing Deputy Mayor Phil Banks and senior adviser Tim Pearson for potentially influencing city contracts and taking kickbacks. (New York Post)

Former corruption prosecutors said that recent searches by federal agents of Adams’ inner circle hint that their inquiries have made a significant step forward. (New York Times)

Twenty minutes with state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a Democratic challenger seeking to unseat Adams. (HellGate)

 

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NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY

Michaelle Solages speaks at a lectern.

Caucus lawmakers want to combat gun violence in New York. | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

CRIME FIGHT: Democratic lawmakers from the state’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus on Monday met with federal law enforcement as they try to combat gun violence.

“By working together, we can implement strategies that have a positive, lasting impact on public safety and provide the necessary resources to uplift the communities most affected,” Assemblymember Michaelle Solages said.

The meeting between officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and caucus lawmakers comes as Democrats in New York have tried to strike a balance on public safety and criminal justice law changes that have been favored by left-leaning officials.

Voters have consistently registered crime as a priority they want officials to tackle, and the issue has been a potent one for Republicans in elections. And many changes in recent years – such as a controversial measure to limit when cash bail is required – have created political problems for Democrats.

That’s why focusing on gun violence can be firmer terrain for Democrats: It’s less controversial and can have a more immediate, measurable effect on public safety.

Tackling shootings through addressing the spread of illegal guns over state lines, sharing ballistics data and curtailing ghost guns are part of that effort, lawmakers said.

“Today's convening of these agencies with the Caucus is just a first collaborative step to not only forge policy but to ensure the voices of our communities are heard,” Assemblymember Catalina Cruz said. — Nick Reisman

More from Albany:

Democrats strategize a response to Republican attacks on ERA ballot proposal. (City & State)

Top state education officials delayed a vote on a policy change that would have allowed boys to compete in girls’ sports. (LoHud)

Assemblymember Ron Kim says the Chinese Communist Party tried to play a role in ousting him from office. (New York Post)

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

FDNY firefighters urge Congress to fund long-term care for 9/11-related illnesses. (Daily News)

New York has voided the vaccination records of 135 kids after a nurse was found to have falsified their records. (Newsday)

Street vendors in Queens contend the NYPD is illegally trashing their seized carts. (Gothamist)

 

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SOCIAL DATA

MAKING MOVES: Sophia Fernandez is now an associate of government relations on the corporate and legislation team at Kasirer.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: The Times’ Mara Gay … The Post’s Keith Kelly … the News’ Thomas Tracy … TPM’s Hunter Walker

Missed Monday’s New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here.

 

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