Rebecca C. Lewis
@rebeccaclewis.bsky.social
State politics at @CityandStateNY.bsky.social. She/her. Mom to Ivy the Capitol Dog. Pitches and dog pics to rlewis@cityandstateny.com. rfclewis.38 on Signal
Talking to reporters, Hochul says she will announce her LG pick "right before" next week's convention, but did not comment on any specific person under consideration. “We cast a wide net for pre-vetting, and we are in the pre-vetting stage," she said
Per sources familiar, Gov. Hochul approached Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez about being LG a few weeks ago, requesting he submit vetting materials. Sources say he has not made a decision on what he would do yet. Bernadette Hogan reported Jamaal Bailey and Donovan Richards said no to Hochul
January 28, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Talking to reporters, Hochul says she will announce her LG pick "right before" next week's convention, but did not comment on any specific person under consideration. “We cast a wide net for pre-vetting, and we are in the pre-vetting stage," she said
Gov. Hochul receives a warm welcome from HTC members at her first campaign rally of the year. "This is the very first union that threw their support behind me when I was running for governor four years ago"
January 28, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Gov. Hochul receives a warm welcome from HTC members at her first campaign rally of the year. "This is the very first union that threw their support behind me when I was running for governor four years ago"
LG Antonio Delgado says he's seeking support at next week's convention to get a place on the ballot, but still plans to petition. "We're going to try to get as many as we can get, and then we're going to petition." Can he hit 25%? "That will speak for itself when the time comes"
January 28, 2026 at 5:29 PM
LG Antonio Delgado says he's seeking support at next week's convention to get a place on the ballot, but still plans to petition. "We're going to try to get as many as we can get, and then we're going to petition." Can he hit 25%? "That will speak for itself when the time comes"
Per sources familiar, Gov. Hochul approached Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez about being LG a few weeks ago, requesting he submit vetting materials. Sources say he has not made a decision on what he would do yet. Bernadette Hogan reported Jamaal Bailey and Donovan Richards said no to Hochul
January 28, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Per sources familiar, Gov. Hochul approached Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez about being LG a few weeks ago, requesting he submit vetting materials. Sources say he has not made a decision on what he would do yet. Bernadette Hogan reported Jamaal Bailey and Donovan Richards said no to Hochul
Unsurprisingly, the state GOP is jumping on the news from Bernadette Hogan that Jamaal Bailey and Donovan Richards have turned down Gov. Hochul's request they be her running mate. "Why would anyone else give up their career to play second banana?"
January 28, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Unsurprisingly, the state GOP is jumping on the news from Bernadette Hogan that Jamaal Bailey and Donovan Richards have turned down Gov. Hochul's request they be her running mate. "Why would anyone else give up their career to play second banana?"
Speaking at a CBC breakfast, Andy Byford, heading the Penn Station redesign project, suggests he's not fully informed on the prospect Hudson River Tunnel construction could halt Friday. "I'm aware of the sort of current talk of Gateway. I need to fully come up to speed with that"
January 28, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Speaking at a CBC breakfast, Andy Byford, heading the Penn Station redesign project, suggests he's not fully informed on the prospect Hudson River Tunnel construction could halt Friday. "I'm aware of the sort of current talk of Gateway. I need to fully come up to speed with that"
Inbox: The commission overseeing the Gateway Program says that construction on the crucial Hudson River tunnel will pause if the feds don't restore funding
January 27, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Inbox: The commission overseeing the Gateway Program says that construction on the crucial Hudson River tunnel will pause if the feds don't restore funding
Gov. Hochul said she spoke with NYC Mayor Mamdani this morning about the major winter storm coming. "He's ready to go," she said.
Mamdani's handling of this weather emergency will be his first big test, and Hochul made it clear the state is ready to step in to help if needed
Mamdani's handling of this weather emergency will be his first big test, and Hochul made it clear the state is ready to step in to help if needed
January 23, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Gov. Hochul said she spoke with NYC Mayor Mamdani this morning about the major winter storm coming. "He's ready to go," she said.
Mamdani's handling of this weather emergency will be his first big test, and Hochul made it clear the state is ready to step in to help if needed
Mamdani's handling of this weather emergency will be his first big test, and Hochul made it clear the state is ready to step in to help if needed
*THREE special elections in NYC, my bad. There is not a weird circumstance where one borough will vote and another will not.
So all the races for AD 36 and 74, and SD 47, will have NO early voting Sunday
So all the races for AD 36 and 74, and SD 47, will have NO early voting Sunday
New: Gov. Hochul announced that early voting for NYC's two special elections coming up on Feb. 3 will be CANCELED on Sunday due to dangerous weather conditions. Monday may get canceled too, though still on for now.
Hochul says extra hours will get added to make up for lost days
Hochul says extra hours will get added to make up for lost days
January 23, 2026 at 2:31 PM
*THREE special elections in NYC, my bad. There is not a weird circumstance where one borough will vote and another will not.
So all the races for AD 36 and 74, and SD 47, will have NO early voting Sunday
So all the races for AD 36 and 74, and SD 47, will have NO early voting Sunday
Although Hochul mistakenly said early voting was set to start Sunday, the first day of early voting is still Saturday. So if you planned to go to the polls tomorrow, you still can.
And for voters in Buffalo, early voting days remain unaffected as the city is expecting less snow
And for voters in Buffalo, early voting days remain unaffected as the city is expecting less snow
New: Gov. Hochul announced that early voting for NYC's two special elections coming up on Feb. 3 will be CANCELED on Sunday due to dangerous weather conditions. Monday may get canceled too, though still on for now.
Hochul says extra hours will get added to make up for lost days
Hochul says extra hours will get added to make up for lost days
January 23, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Although Hochul mistakenly said early voting was set to start Sunday, the first day of early voting is still Saturday. So if you planned to go to the polls tomorrow, you still can.
And for voters in Buffalo, early voting days remain unaffected as the city is expecting less snow
And for voters in Buffalo, early voting days remain unaffected as the city is expecting less snow
New: Gov. Hochul announced that early voting for NYC's two special elections coming up on Feb. 3 will be CANCELED on Sunday due to dangerous weather conditions. Monday may get canceled too, though still on for now.
Hochul says extra hours will get added to make up for lost days
Hochul says extra hours will get added to make up for lost days
January 23, 2026 at 2:13 PM
New: Gov. Hochul announced that early voting for NYC's two special elections coming up on Feb. 3 will be CANCELED on Sunday due to dangerous weather conditions. Monday may get canceled too, though still on for now.
Hochul says extra hours will get added to make up for lost days
Hochul says extra hours will get added to make up for lost days
Hochul warning New Yorkers about the impending winter storm
January 22, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Hochul warning New Yorkers about the impending winter storm
I spoke with Rana Abdelhamid, who is running against the pick of Democrats, the WFP, DSA and Mayor Mamdani himself to replace the mayor in the Assembly. She had some thoughts about how she got here and laid out her plan to beat the odds with a victory www.cityandstateny.com/personality/...
Everyone’s against Rana Abdelhamid. She’s running anyway.
A Q&A with the Assembly candidate running in a special election against the new “establishment.”
www.cityandstateny.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:42 PM
I spoke with Rana Abdelhamid, who is running against the pick of Democrats, the WFP, DSA and Mayor Mamdani himself to replace the mayor in the Assembly. She had some thoughts about how she got here and laid out her plan to beat the odds with a victory www.cityandstateny.com/personality/...
Albany programming note: The state Legislature has canceled session on Monday due to inclement weather and will instead meet Tuesday-Thursday next week (instead of ending on Wednesday)
January 22, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Albany programming note: The state Legislature has canceled session on Monday due to inclement weather and will instead meet Tuesday-Thursday next week (instead of ending on Wednesday)
Reposted by Rebecca C. Lewis
FYI - we added the proposed map from the lawsuit to the @thegraduatecenter.bsky.social Redistricting & You map so you can compare with the current lines and other proposals. Here's a link showing the Manhattan portion of NY11: newyork.redistrictingandyou.org?districtType... cc @petersterne.com
NYS Redistricting 2021-2023-??
newyork.redistrictingandyou.org
January 22, 2026 at 3:36 AM
FYI - we added the proposed map from the lawsuit to the @thegraduatecenter.bsky.social Redistricting & You map so you can compare with the current lines and other proposals. Here's a link showing the Manhattan portion of NY11: newyork.redistrictingandyou.org?districtType... cc @petersterne.com
If you thought we were done with redistricting in the year of our lord 2026, you'd unfortunately be wrong. A judge has ruled that NY-11 must be redrawn in a likely win for Democrats www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
Latest redistricting drama could knock out NYC’s only congressional Republican
A state judge ruled that the Rep. Nicole Malliotakis’ district violates the state constitution and must be redrawn.
www.cityandstateny.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:57 AM
If you thought we were done with redistricting in the year of our lord 2026, you'd unfortunately be wrong. A judge has ruled that NY-11 must be redrawn in a likely win for Democrats www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
Frehsman Assembly Member Claire Valdez, who is running for Congress with Mayor Mamdani's backing, is attending a parole reform rally this morning in Albany. She won't be speaking, but she got a special shout out for attending and supporting the parole bills
January 21, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Frehsman Assembly Member Claire Valdez, who is running for Congress with Mayor Mamdani's backing, is attending a parole reform rally this morning in Albany. She won't be speaking, but she got a special shout out for attending and supporting the parole bills
Reposted by Rebecca C. Lewis
This headline was all @rebeccaclewis.bsky.social by the way www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2026/...
Finances in MY executive budget? It’s more likely than you think
Gov. Kathy Hochul pitched a fiscally-focused spending plan that plays it safe with state money and is light on prickly policy proposals.
www.cityandstateny.com
January 21, 2026 at 2:28 AM
This headline was all @rebeccaclewis.bsky.social by the way www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2026/...
Inbox: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announces Alana Sivin as his counsel. She's well known in the criminal justice reform world and is coming most recently from the Vera Institute
January 21, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Inbox: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announces Alana Sivin as his counsel. She's well known in the criminal justice reform world and is coming most recently from the Vera Institute
Gov. Hochul's executive budget includes a 4-year extension of mayoral control. Only mention was basically in passing during an hour-long technical briefing. Mayor Mamdani originally campaigned against mayoral control, but has since changed his mind (h/t @benmax.bsky.social)
January 20, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Gov. Hochul's executive budget includes a 4-year extension of mayoral control. Only mention was basically in passing during an hour-long technical briefing. Mayor Mamdani originally campaigned against mayoral control, but has since changed his mind (h/t @benmax.bsky.social)
"The newest, most unpredictable challenge (to the state budget) is something very different: direct attacks on states by the Trump administration," Gov. Hochul says as she starts laying out her executive budget proposal
January 20, 2026 at 6:15 PM
"The newest, most unpredictable challenge (to the state budget) is something very different: direct attacks on states by the Trump administration," Gov. Hochul says as she starts laying out her executive budget proposal
New: Gov. Hochul is set today to unveil a $260 billion budget.
- $10.3 billion in lost federal aid, most significantly $3 billion for the Essential Plan
- Three year extension of the corporate tax rate increase
- Taxing nicotine pouches like Zyn the same as tobacco
- $10.3 billion in lost federal aid, most significantly $3 billion for the Essential Plan
- Three year extension of the corporate tax rate increase
- Taxing nicotine pouches like Zyn the same as tobacco
January 20, 2026 at 11:07 AM
New: Gov. Hochul is set today to unveil a $260 billion budget.
- $10.3 billion in lost federal aid, most significantly $3 billion for the Essential Plan
- Three year extension of the corporate tax rate increase
- Taxing nicotine pouches like Zyn the same as tobacco
- $10.3 billion in lost federal aid, most significantly $3 billion for the Essential Plan
- Three year extension of the corporate tax rate increase
- Taxing nicotine pouches like Zyn the same as tobacco
Ivy is seated for her for Albany trip of the year
January 19, 2026 at 11:56 PM
Ivy is seated for her for Albany trip of the year
New from me: I am told the public Velázquez/Mamdani split isn't simply because he endorsed against her preferred candidate. Per CUFFH' Rob Solano, she wanted to discuss her seat and find common ground on a candidate before endorsements. He said no.
Only in First Read!
Only in First Read!
January 16, 2026 at 1:47 PM
New from me: I am told the public Velázquez/Mamdani split isn't simply because he endorsed against her preferred candidate. Per CUFFH' Rob Solano, she wanted to discuss her seat and find common ground on a candidate before endorsements. He said no.
Only in First Read!
Only in First Read!
Gov. Hochul's campaign announces she has raised nearly $5.5 million for her own reelection. She currently has a modest (/s) $20 million on hand for the start of the year
January 15, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Gov. Hochul's campaign announces she has raised nearly $5.5 million for her own reelection. She currently has a modest (/s) $20 million on hand for the start of the year