News in New York – Election Results and NYS Special Session

New York Primary Results

Last Tuesday, New York held its first of two primary election days, where voters cast their ballots for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and State Assembly along party lines. Governor Kathy Hochul cruised to victory in the Democratic primary against Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Congressman Tom Suozzi, and she will now face Congressman Lee Zeldin in the general election this November, as he won a four way race for the Republican nomination, beating out former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, businessman Harry Wilson, and Andrew Giuliani, the former NYC Mayor’s son. For the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor, recently appointed Antonio Delgado easily won, holding off challenges from activist Ana Maria Archila and former Council Member Diana Reyna. The Assembly elections marked a big win for moderates, as most progressive candidates who received the backing of the Working Families Party and/or the Democratic Socialists of America were unsuccessful in their bids to unseat incumbents. The primary for Congressional and State Senate seats will be held on August 23.

New York State Special Session Following Supreme Court’s Decisions

Last week, the State Legislature held a special session to respond to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decisions overturning New York’s gun law and Roe v. Wade. Lawmakers passed and Governor Hochul signed a legislative package that will strengthen New York’s gun laws and bolster restrictions on concealed carry weapons. The legislation institutes a default of no concealed carry on private property and businesses, expands eligibility requirements for concealed carry permits, requires background checks for all ammunition purchases, enhances safe storage requirements, and creates a statewide license and ammunition database. Further, the legislation restricts the carrying of concealed weapons in sensitive locations, including houses of worship, entertainment venues, public transportation including subways and buses, educational institutions, airports, bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, and parks. In addition, the Legislature passed a state-level equal rights amendment that will enshrine abortion rights in the New York State Constitution. The resolution adds ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy to existing protections that currently cover discrimination based on race, color, religion or creed. The resolution will need to pass again in the next legislative session, and if passed it will go before voters for final approval.