There is no low too low for the Democrats. They are willing to do anything to “win.”
That’s why Democrats have devised an insane plan to reduce seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Report: New York Democrats Aim to Keep Stefanik’s House Seat Vacant Until Summer
New York Democratic lawmakers are reportedly seeking to keep the House seat currently held by Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik vacant until the summer, in what is being described as an unprecedented political maneuver. The proposal, which was reportedly discussed during late-night meetings last week, is raising eyebrows, especially among Republicans who are calling it a blatant power grab.
The Republican Party in New York is voicing concerns over the timing of the proposed legislation, which could delay the special election to fill Stefanik’s seat until June, coinciding with the state’s scheduled primary elections. The move comes as Stefanik, a strong ally of former President Donald Trump, is undergoing a confirmation process to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. If the Senate confirms her nomination, she is expected to vacate her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Republican Assemblyman Matt Slater, who represents New York’s 94th district in Putnam and Westchester counties, expressed strong disapproval of the Democrats’ efforts. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Slater did not mince words, accusing state Democrats of engaging in a form of “Tammany Hall corruption,” referring to the infamous political machine that dominated New York City politics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
“We still haven’t seen the final proposal from the Democrats in Albany, but there’s no doubt that Tammany Hall corruption is alive and well in the state capital,” Slater said.
He further criticized the Democrats for manipulating the political system to serve their own interests. “It is just blatantly corrupt for the New York State Democrats to keep changing the rules of engagement simply out of self-interest. Meanwhile, New Yorkers are struggling in so many different ways. U-Haul just gave us our worst migration rating ever because there’s so many New Yorkers who are fleeing this state. So they can get things done, but they only do it when it benefits them,” Slater argued.
Slater, who serves as the ranking Republican on the state’s Election Law Committee, also raised concerns about how the proposed delay would impact the state’s representation in Washington, D.C. With Republicans holding a razor-thin majority in the U.S. House, the vacancy of Stefanik’s seat is a matter of strategic importance for both parties.
At the heart of the controversy is the possibility that state Democrats are using the delay to thwart Republican efforts and weaken the influence of the second Trump administration. Stefanik’s seat, which is part of a district where Republicans traditionally hold an edge, has become a significant point of contention.
Under current New York law, when a House seat becomes vacant, the governor has 10 days to declare a special election. The election itself must then be held within 80 to 90 days. However, the anticipated Democratic legislation could change this timeline, pushing the special election to the summer—just as the state’s primary elections are scheduled. If the bill is passed, Stefanik’s district would remain without representation in Congress for several months, potentially altering the balance of power in Washington.
Slater sees this as a deliberate strategy to create further difficulty for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and to disrupt President Trump’s legislative agenda. “Speaker Johnson has the hardest job in government right now, trying to keep the Republican conference, caucus together. This obviously would make that margin of Republican control that much more thin and that much more challenging for the speaker and, again, jeopardizing President Trump’s agenda to get through Congress. That’s their entire mission and goal, the Albany Democrats, is to make sure that they’re combating President Trump each step of the way,” Slater explained.
He also pointed to what he sees as a history of New York Democrats manipulating the system to their advantage. “If you look at the track record of the Democrats, who control every aspect of state government here in New York, they have changed the rules so many times just because it benefits them,” Slater said. He cited examples such as gerrymandering, the reconfiguration of the state’s top court, and other instances of political maneuvering designed to benefit the Democratic Party.
The New York Governor’s Office Responds
In response to Republican criticism, a spokesperson for Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul told Gothamist that the proposed legislation was motivated by a desire to increase voter turnout and reduce the costs associated with election administration.
“Governor Hochul believes it’s critical to increase voter turnout and reduce the cost of election administration, and she would support legislation that achieves that goal,” the spokesperson said.
However, Slater dismissed this rationale as hypocritical, pointing out that there were two special elections in New York last year—one for the seat of former Democratic Rep. Brian Higgins and another for the special election to replace Republican Rep. George Santos. In both cases, Slater argued, Democrats did not seek to change the special election rules, even though they were expected to win both contests.
“I can’t believe how hypocritical the governor and her office can be in this, because let me remind the governor that she had two special elections for Congress last year,” Slater stated.
He further emphasized the stark contrast between the Democrats’ current proposal and their lack of action last year when their own party was favored in special elections. “To sit here and say that this is going to save taxpayer money and increase voter turnout, but you didn’t think about that last year when your own party had special elections that you were favored to win? Fact of the matter is, this has everything to do with the fact that this is a Republican seat,” Slater asserted.
While local reports have suggested that the bill could delay the special election even further, potentially until November when New York holds its general elections, Slater expressed doubt that Democrats would push the timeline that far.
“If you want to talk about increasing voter turnout and saving taxpayer money, they really don’t have an excuse to wait past that June date,” Slater said. “Yes, it’s always a possibility that November is the date that they put in the legislation. But I’m hard-pressed to believe that they would go that far.
The battle over Stefanik’s seat is not only about the future of one congressional district but also about the hot political atmosphere in Washington. As one of the most prominent Republican figures in New York, Stefanik has been a key player in shaping the direction of the House Republican Conference. Her resignation to assume a role in the Trump administration could have major implications for the Republican Party’s ability to maintain its slim majority in the House.
Stefanik, who served as the chair of the House Republican Conference from 2021 to 2025, has been a strong advocate for former President Trump. She was first elected to the House in 2014, at the age of 30, becoming the youngest woman ever to serve in Congress at the time. Her potential departure from the House has only heightened the stakes of the ongoing political maneuvering in Albany.
For Slater and many Republicans in the state, this move by the Democrats serves as a wake-up call for New Yorkers. He argued that this effort is so transparently political that it should make citizens question whether their leaders are truly working for their best interests. “It’s so transparently political that New Yorkers need to wake up, and they need to understand that this isn’t the leadership that we’re asking for,” Slater said. “President Trump has a great agenda moving forward, and this is all about disrupting that agenda to put America first.”
The Federalist Wire will update you on any major developments in the next steps to replace Representative Stefanik in the U.S. House of Representatives.
