Nick Reisman

Senate Republicans

The effort for the Republican conference in the state Senate just got a lot more complicated.

Sen. Mark Grisanti, a Buffalo Republican, lost his primary against Kevin Stocker, an attorney who Democrats were foaming at the mouth to challenge.

Grisanti is a moderate Republican who has been a solid legislative ally for Cuomo: He supported the gun control law known as the SAFE Act and is the last sitting Republican senator to support same-sex marriage.

And yet, Grisanti was handily defeated by Stocker, a second-time candidate, for the GOP ballot line. Grisanti retains the Independence Party ballot line this November.
http://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2014/09/primary-day-losers/

hrmjustin

(71,265 posts)

3. Primary Day Winners

Reply to hrmjustin (Original post)

Wed Sep 10, 2014, 05:32 PM

Sep 2014

Nick Reisman

Yes, Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the halls of the state Capitol is not a popular figure after four years of arm twisting and — some would say — bullying to get what he wants.

But the Cuomo 2014 campaign lurched into action in the last several weeks before Tuesday night’s primary win, revealing a broad coalition of powerful labor unions like 1199/SEIU and the Hotel Trades Council that helped drive turnout for Cuomo and his little-known running mate, former Rep. Kathy Hochul.

Cuomo called in a variety favors in the final days of the campaign, ranging from likely presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, all of whom placed an emphasis on Hocul, as she faced a “spirited” (in Cuomo’s words) primary opponent in Tim Wu, a Columbia University professor through automated phone calls and endorsements.

Despite the noise over Cuomo’s troubles with the liberal, advocacy-aligned organizations disappointed in his inability to reform Albany’s troubled ethics culture, the bad press surrounding a federal investigation into the Moreland Commission and a moderate approach on fiscal issues, the governor racked up enough votes in key regions — western New York and New York City — to put him over the top.

http://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2014/09/primary-day-winners/

hrmjustin

(71,265 posts)

4. Gianaris Sees Sampson, Felder and Diaz Working With Democrats

Reply to hrmjustin (Original post)

Wed Sep 10, 2014, 05:41 PM

Sep 2014

Will Bredderman

Queens State Senator Michael Gianaris–head of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee–told radio listeners today that he expected indicted but re-elected Brooklyn State Senator John Sampson, renegade Brooklyn State Senator Simcha Felder and the unpredictable Bronx State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. to join with his Democratic delegation and support Westchester State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins for Senate Majority Leader next year.

Speaking on the Capitol Pressroom radio program, Mr. Gianaris said he considered Mr. Sampson and Mr. Diaz loyal Democrats who would doubtless fall in line with the rest of their party colleagues, and believed Mr. Felder–a conservative Democrat who has sat with the Republicans since his election in 2012–would come into the majority delegation fold.

Read more at http://observer.com/2014/09/gianaris-sees-sampson-felder-and-diaz-working-with-democrats/#ixzz3Cx3GXRNp
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hrmjustin

(71,265 posts)

5. Cuomo Bemoans Grisanti Loss, And Pivots To Campaign Theme

Reply to hrmjustin (Original post)

Wed Sep 10, 2014, 06:20 PM

Sep 2014

Nick Reisman

The loss of Sen. Mark Grisanti, a Republican who backed the legalization of same-sex marriage, fit into a larger narrative for Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday and it’s one he promises to continue using in the general election.

Cuomo, in Buffalo on Wednesday with running mate Kathy Hochul, blamed Grisanti’s loss on a challenge from “ultraconservative” Republicans who are trying to impose a sense of “discipline” on the party’s rank and file who stray from orthodoxy.

http://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2014/09/cuomo-bemoans-grisanti-loss-and-pivots-to-campaign-theme/

hrmjustin

(71,265 posts)

6. Martins’ 1st TV Ad Touts Equal Pay Vote

Reply to hrmjustin (Original post)

Wed Sep 10, 2014, 06:21 PM

Sep 2014

Liz Benjamin

As further proof that women’s issues are going to dominate the general election debate in key Senate races, Long Island Republican Sen. Jack Martins has released his first TV ad of the 7th SD race, touting his support of an equal pay bill.

Martins has been under attack from his Democratic opponent, Adam Haber, for the Senate GOP’s refusal to allow Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s full 10-point Women’s Equality Act to come to the floor for a vote as a result of opposition to the abortion-rights plank.

http://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2014/09/martins-1st-tv-ad-touts-equal-pay-vote/

hrmjustin

(71,265 posts)

7. Sen. Sampson’s political consultant found guilty of fraud

Reply to hrmjustin (Original post)

Wed Sep 10, 2014, 06:34 PM

Sep 2014

James M. Odato

The day after Sen. John Sampson survived a Democratic primary battle, his political consultant, Melvin Lowe, was found guilty by a federal jury of conspiring with Sampson to defraud the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Preet Bharara added to his string of convictions within New York’s political environment. His case against Lowe prevailed in federal court in White Plains where Low was found guilty of working with Sampson to relieve the campaign committtee of $100,000.

Lowe, a one time aide to Sampson, was also found guilty of one count of wire fraud arising out of his scheme to defraud the DSCC; three counts of subscribing to false tax returns; three counts of failing to file tax returns; and one count of causing a bank employee to make a false report of a federally insured bank.

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/220317/sen-sampsons-political-consultant-found-guilty-of-fraud/

hrmjustin

(71,265 posts)

8. Victorious Sampson Knocks de Blasio and Cuomo For Endorsing His Opponent

Reply to hrmjustin (Original post)

Thu Sep 11, 2014, 10:23 AM

Sep 2014

http://observer.com/2014/09/victorious-sampson-knocks-de-blasio-and-cuomo-for-endorsing-his-opponent/

Jillian Jorgensen

After handily winning his primary despite being under indictment, State Senator John Sampson slammed Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo last night on NY1 for backing his opponent and getting involved in the local race at all.

Mr. Sampson appeared on NY1’s Inside City Hall last night, where he said the mayor and the governor — as well as the Working Families Party and a slew of unions that had backed Mr. Sampson in the past but did not this year — made a mistake in backing his challenger for the Democratic nomination, Dell Smitherman, former political coordinator for 1199 SEIU.

Read more at http://observer.com/2014/09/victorious-sampson-knocks-de-blasio-and-cuomo-for-endorsing-his-opponent/#ixzz3D17blnQ4
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