Potential special election for congressional seats weighs down election commissions
POUGHKEEPSIE — Governor Hochul on Tuesday named Democratic Congressman Antonio Delgado (NY-19) as New York State’s next lieutenant governor. Depending on when Delgado resigns from Congress, there may be a special election to take his seat in Washington.
If Delgado resigns from Congress before July 1, Hochul has 10 days from the date of resignation to call a special election, which would be held 90 days later. If Delgado resigns anytime after July 1, there will be no special election, leaving residents of the congressional district without representation in Washington until a new representative is elected in November and sworn in on July 1. January 2023.
Congressman Delgado, until his nomination in Albany, was contested for his seat in the United States House of Representatives by Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, a Republican. Molinaro continues to campaign for the seat.
The current date for the Congressional primary elections is August 23. Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan and State Senator Michelle Hinchey, Democrats, have both been mentioned as potential candidates to replace Delgado. If there is a primary, the winner will potentially face Molinaro in the general election.
Maps of new congressional districts created by state lawmakers have been rejected, and court-ordered replacement maps have yet to be submitted. If the neighborhood lines change, Molinaro may no longer be a resident of the new neighborhood.
Dutchess County Republican Elections Commissioner Eric Haight said that if Hochul calls for a special election to hold the seat on the same day as the primary, “it will pose significant challenges and insurmountable obstacles for the councils of county, both from the point of view of human resources and technology. perspectives “. Explaining the problem, Haight added, “The different systems we use simply cannot administer two separate elections on the same day on the old set of lines and the impending new lines simultaneously.”
Commissioner Haight noted that the cost to Dutchess County ratepayers for the special election is approximately $200,000.
The current NY-19 district includes all of Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties. It also encompasses parts of Broome, Dutchess, Montgomery and Rensselaer counties.