Dispatches from Planet Albany

The race for governor of New York won't be decided for another eleven months, but a snapshot of the contest from the fall by a conservative think tank suggests the election is winnable for Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

We unpack the findings, including Gov. Kathy Hochul's underwhelming performance in New York City, and the poll's methodology with Jesse Arm, vice president of external affairs at the Manhattan Institute, ...

Tusk Strategies partner Shontell Smith Plummer is back on the podcast after a lengthy absence to discuss whether a leak from the Hochul administration was accidentally done on purpose, the possibility of tax increases in next year's state budget, and whether Democratic lawmakers at the Capitol are going to veer to the left because of possible primaries.

We also talk about who the gov...

In 2022, corruption charges blew up the career trajectory for then-Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin. More than three years later, with the case dropped by federal prosecutors, the Harlem Democrat has a new life and a new perspective on the legal system and his life's journey.

Benjamin visited the studio to reflect on the allegations of bribery from his time in the state senate, consider the role of the governor's number two and what makes a...

A recent report from the Business Council of New York State made the case that employers in the Empire State don't feel like they're being heard by state policymakers. Putting aside that every interest group feels like this, it's undeniable that business interests do play a lot of defense during the legislative session in Albany.

To discuss the lobbying efforts of the business community we sat down with former Democratic Assemblyma...

What does it mean to be a Democrat?

That's the question being posed to the party faithful in New York by Matt Castelli, who is best known in the Empire State for his 2022 congressional shellacking at the hands of Rep. Elise Stefanik. The former CIA operative has regrouped in Dutchess County, where there is speculation about a 2027 run for county executive, and is hoping to rebuild his party's brand in New York with input from the c...

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has a short list of accomplishments in Albany during his time in the Assembly, but his plans for the Big Apple will require him to be successful at the state's Capitol. 

We talked about that path to success with Assemblymember Amanda Septimo, a Bronx Democrat, who has been described as part of Mamdani's "brain trust." We consider what he'll prioritize for Albany in 2026, how she can be helpf...

After months of flirting with a gubernatorial run, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik jumped into the race in November.

We discuss the North Country Republican's longshot path to the Executive Mansion in Albany with Chapin Fay, a veteran GOP strategist and founder of Lighthouse Public Affairs. We talk about the importance of New York City for Stefanik in a general election, consider the ramifications of a GOP primary, and debate whether ...

Democrats made inroads all over New York on Election Day, including flipping some Republican-held county legislatures, and the party's mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, got the highest number of votes in decades.

We break down this good news for the Democratic Party, the not-so-good news in Nassau County, the status of the New York party infrastructure, and the prospects of governing and running for elections in 2026 with the help o...

Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado joins the show to talk politics, including share his grievances with the New York Democratic Party under the control of Gov. Kathy Hochul and NY Dems Chair Jay Jacobs.

The gubernatorial hopeful also discusses the future of U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and what he's looking for in a number two.

You can catch our conversation about his policy positions, including support for Medical Aid in Dying, in The Capitol Pr...

The field of contenders for three downstate casino licenses has been whittled down to three options and the selection process could conclude imminently, so we're checking in on how we got there and what might happen next.

Crain's New York Business political reporter Nick Garber discusses the surprise decision by MGM to abandon their casino bid, highlights some of the peculiar moments in this journey, and considers whether less than...

After documenting the challenging working conditions and underwhelming compensation for central staff in the Assembly, New York Focus senior reporter Sam Mellins reports that at least the pay is getting better for the behind-the-scenes personnel that make the people's house run.

Mellins discusses who is getting a raise and the status of unionization efforts by legislative staffer.

Then for Working Rules, Slingshot Strategies partne...

Wonder who is on the rise in New York? Curious what campaign are heading in the wrong direction? 

Patrick Wildes, director of Albany Law School's Government Law Center, and Dan Clark, author of the Capitol Confidential newsletter, join host David Lombardo to offer trading tips on issues and people for our Capitol stock market. 

They make predictions on the future of Sen. Andrew Gounardes, treatment courts, efforts to promote afford...

New York policymakers will face some hard choices in 2026 about the state's health care system as the result of changes coming from Washington D.C. that include cuts to providers and regulations that could bounce people off government-run insurance. 

 Advocates of the New York Health Act, which would create a state-run, single-payer health insurance system, hope the state's predicament will make their legislation more appealing to ...

Raj Goyle is one of a growing list of Democrats looking to wrest their party's state comptroller nomination away from incumbent Tom DiNapoli. The former Kansas state lawmaker argues that the powers of the comptroller's office have been wasted and makes the case that his background makes him the optimal change candidate. 

We touch on his voting record in the Wheat State, the type of primary voter who will gravitate toward his longsh...

New Yorkers with disabilities have no problem finding rhetorical support in Albany, but champions willing and able to deliver meaningful funding and policies are harder to find. 

We explore this dynamic, including how it might change, with Michael Schweinsburg, president of the 504 Democratic Club, a political advocacy group that endorsed Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado for governor. We touch on the demands of New Yorkers with disabilitie...

The Empire State Plaza and Capitol are in a period of transition that includes road work, restoring an historic staircase and a potential reimagining of how the complex is integrated into the community.

We were joined in the studio state OGS Commissioner Jeanette Moy to discuss these moving parts and whether the escalators and elevators will work during the 2026 legislative session.

And if you enjoy Dispatches from Planet Albany, p...

After getting tested in the fires of the Brooklyn Democratic Committee for three years, James Christopher has launched his own communications firm. Now that he's escaped the orbit of this high-profile and controversial political machine, we ask him about navigating political landmines in Brooklyn and what's in store for his future.

Then we talk with WNYC/Goth...

The latest game of musical chairs at the Capitol has resulted in Assemblymember Jen Lunsford serving as assistant majority leader, a role that puts her third in line to run the chamber during ordinary operations.

We talked with the Rochester-area Democrat about why she got this post after just five years (she's a nerd with perfect attendance), considered her growing debate responsibilities, and explored what leadership roles might ...

The campaign to reform live-event ticket regulations in New York, which was expected to be in a public coma until the 2026 legislative session in Albany, got a boost of publicity this summer when NYC Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani called on FIFA to adopt consumer friendly measures for World Cup ticket sales.

The assemblyman has given a national spotlight to an issue that is generally relegated to trade publications, pers...