Political Forces

Good morning from Rochester, New York. 

With an election fifty days away, no better time to think about the next one, right? In light of the shellacking mainstream Democrats got from the progressive tidal wave that swept over the Empire State this primary election cycle, New York State Democratic Committee Chair Jay Jacobs (and other party leaders) are considering opening primary elections in time for 2028.

Open primary contests would allow unaffiliated voters to participate in either a Republican or Democratic primary, potentially diluting the influence of progressive groups like the Democratic Socialists of America and providing a boon to more establishment Democrats who would otherwise be vulnerable and presumably also protecting more mainstream Republicans from insurgent MAGA and far-right primary challengers as well.

Jacobs, already a villain to the far left for his refusal to endorse then-candidate Zohran Mamdani last year, is proactively pushing back on the inevitable blowback the proposal will receive, saying, “Anything that gets more voter participation is something that everyone should look at favorably. If you want to suppress votes and have a smaller vote, that speaks for itself.” Jacobs is seeking his seventh, nonconsecutive term as state chair, with the election scheduled for the state committee meeting on October 1st. 

State Senator Jessica Ramos, who unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of New York City in 2025 and lost a reelection primary earlier this year, finds herself under investigation by a state ethics commission after recent reporting uncovered questionable billing practices dating back to 2023. According to the reporting, there are more than a dozen instances where Ramos submitted reimbursement requests from the state Legislature for travel expenses that were already paid for by her State Senate campaign account. The apparent double-dipping was missed by administrative staff who ultimately approved the reimbursement requests, despite the implementation of ethics reform and streamlined record-keeping procedures in 2015 that were meant to prevent these types of episodes. Ramos has not publicly commented on the allegations or subsequent investigation by the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, but Mike Murphy, a spokesman for the Senate Democrats, said, “We are open to reviewing and strengthening our policies and reviewing practices to ensure this does not happen again. This is clearly unacceptable.” 

The issue of crime remains front and center on the campaign trail in the race between Governor Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. After a series of violent incidents on the parade route of last week’s West Indian Parade, Blakeman used the opportunity to hammer Hochul for being soft on crime, posting on social media, “Two years in a row, chaos on Kathy Hochul’s watch at the West Indian American Day Parade. New Yorkers should be able to celebrate their culture and community without fear of violence. My prayers are with the victims in Crown Heights, but prayers must be matched with action. New York needs leaders who will restore law and order and make public safety the priority again.” Earlier in the week, Blakeman accused Hochul of blocking him from participating in the parade, a claim that parade organizers and the Hochul team denied, saying through a spokesman, “No, the governor’s team didn’t block Bruce Blakeman from speaking—this is as fake as his AI campaign ads.” 

Across the river, New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell is under investigation over allegations of misconduct with women and other potential ethics violations. Governor Mikie Sherrill’s office initiated the internal investigation and hired Christopher Porrino, a former New Jersey Attorney General, to conduct the inquiry into Caldwell, who also serves as New Jersey’s Secretary of State. In a brief statement, Sherrill said, “I take my responsibility to treat any reports of inappropriate behavior or misconduct extremely seriously, and any credible report must be fully examined and addressed. If the evidence warrants, I will take appropriate action quickly. At the same time, I have a vital responsibility to the safety and privacy of every person. Anyone must know that they can come forward with a complaint and they will be safe from retaliation. The subject of a complaint must also know and be confident that their rights will be protected as well, and they will receive a fair and thorough review.” Since then, Sherrill has been noticeably quiet on the issue, drawing criticism from fellow Democrats who point to her history of speaking out in support of women. Sherrill has yet to strip Caldwell of his official day-to-day duties, and leadership in the state Legislature, as well as top state Democratic officials, have said they have been left in the dark. One official speaking on the condition of anonymity told Politico, “That’s just deteriorating relationships. Obviously, the Republicans are pouncing on this, and nobody’s left with talking points—should they come to his defense? What should they do?” Before Sherrill selected him as a running mate, Caldwell, 66, was the president of Centenary University and was relatively unknown in New Jersey political circles. More to come here.

In New Hampshire, Rep. Chris Pappas easily defeated a field of lesser-known progressive challengers in the Democratic primary for the Senate and will face former Senator John Sununu in the general election in November.

New Hampshire has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 2010, but the GOP views the open seat as a prime pickup opportunity. The Senate Leadership Fund has reserved a $17 million ad buy in the Granite State, and Elon Musk’s America PAC has been active in the race as well. Stefany Shaheen, a former Portsmouth City Council member and daughter of outgoing Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), narrowly defeated New Hampshire Democratic Party Vice Chair Maura Sullivan in the primary race for Pappas’s open House seat. 

-Jack O’Donnell

O’Donnell & Associates was proud to sponsor and attend Rendezvous In The Zoo—the “RITZ” Gala, an elegant evening celebrating our client, the Buffalo Zoo, and its commitment to wildlife conservation. Friends and supporters came together to recognize the Zoo’s important work and look ahead to an exciting future for this beloved Buffalo institution. We’re honored to be part of an evening that celebrates its impact on our community and beyond.