Andrew Cuomo

New York Judge OKs Lawsuit To Repeal Marriage Equality Law

Jillian Rayfield | November 30, 2011, 5:52AM

A state Supreme Court judge in New York will allow a lawsuit against the state's marriage equality law to move forward, citing concerns about whether officials broke the state's open meetings law in the lead-up to the vote last June.

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New York

Four Republicans Who Supported NY Gay Marriage Getting A Big Fundraiser

Jillian Rayfield | October 13, 2011, 1:42PM

The four Republican lawmakers in New York who supported the gay marriage law are getting a big cash infusion Thursday night, with a fundraiser in Manhattan that is expected to raise $1.25 million.

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Eric Schneiderman

New York AG Asks Court To Throw Out Anti-Gay Marriage Suit

Jillian Rayfield | September 19, 2011, 1:03PM

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has asked a state court to toss a lawsuit challenging New York's marriage equality law, which was signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo back in June.

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Nan Hayworth

GOP Freshman Under Fire For Demanding Offsets For Disaster Relief In Her Own District

Brian Beutler | September 1, 2011, 9:39AM

Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-NY)

This isn't the sort of headline and lead paragraph you want to read in the local paper if you're a freshman House member in a marginal district: "Hayworth seeking to withhold disaster money unless it is offset by budget cuts: Only days after a record-setting storm destroyed her district, Rep. Nan Hayworth and her House colleagues threatened to withhold disaster money if lawmakers don't cut additional spending from the federal budget."

But that's exactly what the New York freshman woke up to this morning after saying she would only vote to replenish FEMA's disaster relief fund if the money is offset with spending cuts elsewhere in the budget, according to the paper. Her constituents, and officials in her district, don't want to hear about conditions -- even Republicans.

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Martin O'Malley

Martin O'Malley Preps New, More Aggressive Push For Gay Marriage In Maryland

Brian Beutler | July 20, 2011, 1:19PM

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-MD)

At the end of this week, or the beginning of the next, Gov. Martin O'Malley -- the chair of the Democratic Governor's Association -- is preparing a bold push for gay marriage rights in Maryland.

In a sit-down interview with TPM at DGA headquarters in downtown Washington, DC, O'Malley explained what's changed since the last time Maryland tried to enact marriage equality, and why he plans to be at the front of the issue this time around.

"There is a broad coalition of people coming together -- broader than we had in the last session," O'Malley said. "And this coalition is encouraged by the fact that our neighbors in New York found a way to protect religious freedom and the quality of marital rights at the same time.... Sometimes in the history of our Republic, fundamental rights appear to eclipse each other for a time, and this is one of those times, and we need to sort it out."

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Andrew Cuomo

Democrat or Republican, Cutting Back on State Workers Becoming Popular Move for States

Michael R. Corjulo | July 20, 2011, 6:00AM

Climbing out of "The Great Recession", many state governments found themselves faced with gaping budget shortfalls. A popular solution has been downsizing government work forces and reducing the power of public sector unions.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker became a mascot for the cause earlier this year when he began a push to take away collective bargaining rights from public workers in his state, a step so drastic that the state senate Democrats found it necessary to flee to Illinois to prevent a vote on the matter (which eventually became law anyway). Republican governors John Kasich (OH), Chris Christie (NJ), and Rick Scott (FL) all stirred up controversy for looking for similar places to scale back.

But while the most publicized and most agressive anti-union fights have been in states with newly elected Republican governors, unions are being pinched in more traditionally friendly democratic territory as well.

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Andrew Cuomo

New York, I Love You: Cuomo Continues To Roll

Kyle Leighton | July 14, 2011, 11:40AM

New Yorkers have never been accused of having the sunniest outlook on politics in their state. But that was before Andrew Cuomo became their governor.

Cuomo continues to be held in very high esteem, notching a 71% favorability rating in the latest poll from Siena College, with only 21% of New York voters having an unfavorable view of him. Despite inheriting a nine billion dollar deficit, the TPM Poll Average of Cuomo's favorability remains at a high 75.9%, having scored victories with a budget deal that cut spending while not raising income tax rates and pushing through a bill legalizing gay marriage in the state.

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Michael Bloomberg

Wedding Bells Will Ring on July 24 in New York City

Megan Reback | July 8, 2011, 1:12PM

New York City will open its clerk's offices on Sunday, July 24, to allow same-sex couples to wed on the first day the state's gay marriage bill goes into effect, officials said this week. Although clerk's offices in the five boroughs are normally closed on weekends, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that for this momentous occasion, they will open.

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Gay Marriage

New York State Senate Voting On Marriage Equality Friday Night

Jillian Rayfield | June 24, 2011, 5:59PM

New York's marriage equality bill will come up for a vote in the state Senate Friday night, after lawmakers reached a deal on the final language of the bill earlier in the day.

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New York

Still No Deal In New York's Fight Over Marriage Equality

Jillian Rayfield | June 23, 2011, 6:55AM

Leaders of the New York legislature have not yet reached a deal on the final language of the state's marriage equality bill, nor has there been a decision about bringing the legislation up for a vote.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D) said today that though there are some amendments to the bill that address the Republicans' concerns over religious exemptions, "there's no final agreement on exact language."

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James Alesi

Pro-Gay Marriage NY Lawmaker: 'I'm A Republican -- I Was Born That Way'

Jillian Rayfield | June 21, 2011, 3:34PM

State Sen. James Alesi (R-NY)

Though no deal has been reached yet in the fight over the New York marriage equality bill, there's one Republican state Senator who's dropped his poker face.

James Alesi told a crowd in Albany Tuesday that he's supporting the bill, adding: "I'm a Republican -- I was born that way."

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Andrew Cuomo

Down To The Wire On Marriage Equality In New York

Jillian Rayfield | June 20, 2011, 10:18AM

The New York legislature entered its final day of the session Monday, with lawmakers and gay rights advocates continuing to pursue a deal to pass marriage equality legislation in the state Senate.

The New York Post reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R) are closing in on a deal to get the legislation passed. The Senate Republicans had still not decided whether to bring the legislation up for a vote at the end of last week, as some in the caucus pushed for more specific exemptions for religious groups.

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Andrew Cuomo

Behind Scenes, NY Advocacy Groups Fight For Same-Sex Marriage

Michael R. Corjulo | June 17, 2011, 1:37PM

The fate of a much-anticipated bill legalizing same-sex marriage in New York remains uncertain, with the state Senate having yet to act on the measure as of early Friday afternoon.

No matter the result, a vote will mark the end of months of political positioning by Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) and legislative leaders, who have been working to secure enough support to pass the legislation.

The marriage-equality bill has considerably more momentum on its side than it did in 2009, when it passed the Assembly but fell in the Senate by a vote of 38 to 24.

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Same Sex Marriage

Still No Vote Set For Same-Sex Marriage In New York Senate

Eric Lach | June 17, 2011, 9:16AM

New York State Senate Republicans have still not said whether they will bring a bill legalizing same-sex marriage to a floor vote, The Albany Times Union reports. The New York Assembly passed the bill on Wednesday, setting expectations for the Senate to take it up this week.

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New York

New York's Marriage Equality Bill Passes The State Assembly

Jillian Rayfield | June 15, 2011, 9:33PM

The New York Assembly passed the state's marriage equality bill Wednesday by a vote of 80-63, paving the way for it to be taken up in the state Senate later this week.

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Gay Marriage

Second NY Republican Says He'll Back Gay Marriage Bill

Jillian Rayfield | June 14, 2011, 5:14PM

Sen. Roy J. McDonald (R-NY)

Republican state Sen. Roy McDonald announced Tuesday that he'll back New York's marriage equality bill when it comes up in the Senate this week.

"I'm trying to do the right thing," McDonald said, Capitol Confidential reports. "Rather than wait I worked with the governor. ... I'm not out to alienate anybody. This is driven by compassion."

He added that he thinks the vote will be on Friday.

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Andrew Cuomo

Andrew Cuomo Sends NY Gay Marriage Bill To State Legislature

Jillian Rayfield | June 14, 2011, 3:58PM

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) sent New York's gay marriage bill to the state legislature Tuesday, effectively kicking the state's battle over marriage equality into high gear in the last week of the legislative session.

Capital Tonight reports that it will be ready for a vote in about three days.

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Andrew Cuomo

First NY Republican Says He'll Back Marriage Equality Bill

Jillian Rayfield | June 13, 2011, 5:58PM

State Sen. James Alesi (R-NY)

New York State Sen. James Alesi is the first Republican to say he'll back a bill to legalize gay marriage when it's brought up, which likely means the legislation only needs two more votes to pass.

Alesi announced his support after a private meeting with Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who says the bill will get a vote in the state Senate before the end of the legislative session next Monday. "This becomes a matter of equality for people, our sons and daughters, (who) deserve the same freedom and the same equality in this great country and in the state of New York that each of every one of us enjoy in our everyday life," Alesi said of his decision, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports.

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Andrew Cuomo

Report: Three New York Dems Say They Will Back Gay Marriage

Jillian Rayfield | June 13, 2011, 2:48PM

Three key New York Democrats in the state Senate reportedly said Monday that they will support marriage equality legislation, an important reversal for Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who is pushing to bring the measure up for a vote by the end of the week.

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Gay Marriage

Poll Shows Most NYers Support Gay Marriage -- Push To Legalize Could Come Down To Eight State Sens.

Jillian Rayfield | June 3, 2011, 8:55AM

Polls show the majority of New Yorkers have made up their minds that the state should legalize gay marriage, but ultimately the fight will likely come down to eight state Senators who are still undecided.

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National Organization of Marriage

Same Sex Marriage Fight In New York Heats Up

Jillian Rayfield | May 12, 2011, 8:57AM

The Empire State is the next battleground in the fight over same sex marriage.

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Carl Paladino

Bat-Wielding Paladino Concedes: 'You Have Not Heard The Last Of Carl Paladino' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | November 3, 2010, 1:12AM

In his concession speech tonight, failed New York Governor candidate Carl Paladino resorted to his old "take a baseball bat to Albany" metaphor, by whipping out a baseball bat and saying he has a message for Democrat Andrew Cuomo: "As our Governor, you can grab this handle and bring the people with you to Albany. Or you can leave it untouched, and run the risk of having it wielded against you. Because make no mistake, you have not heard the last of Carl Paladino."

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NY-GOV

Andrew Cuomo Wins Race For New York Governor Over Carl Paladino

Jillian Rayfield | November 2, 2010, 9:06PM

Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (D) has won the race for New York Governor over Carl Paladino (R).

With 0% of precincts reporting, CNN projects that Cuomo is the winner.

Though the Tea Party-backed Paladino had some early momentum that helped him beat Rick Lazio in the September 14 Republican primary, his campaign has since been plagued by controversy and concerns about his temperament.

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NY-GOV

Carl Paladino's Bumbling Takes Backseat To Even Zanier Cast Of NY-GOV Candidates

Jillian Rayfield | October 18, 2010, 8:59PM

New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino

If the competition was "Who Can Get The Best Zinger" in tonight's debate in the race for New York Governor, then Republican nominee Carl Paladino "ummm"'ed and "uhhh"'ed" his way to last place next to the other colorful candidates, who made up for the debate's low-key tone with some choice jokes and one-liners.

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NY-GOV

NYT Poll: Paladino Trails By A Mile In NY-GOV Race

Marc Kilstein | October 18, 2010, 3:17PM

New York Gubernatorial Candidate Carl Paladino

While New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino remains in the national spotlight for his controversial comments, polls suggest his chances of actually being elected are slim to none.

A newly released New York Times poll of the contest finds Democratic state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo leading the Republican by 35 points, 59%-24%. This is the first poll conducted by The Times on the race, so there are no numbers for direct comparison. The contest's last survey prior to today's was an October 13 SurveyUSA poll that had Paladino trailing 59%-33%.

The TPM Poll Average shows Cuomo on top, 54.8%-36.8%. The margin of error for the latest survey is ±3.0 percentage points.

For more on the race, check out TPMDC's full coverage here.

NY-GOV

Six Days, 180 Degrees: A Timeline Of Carl Paladino's Gay Rights Flip-Flop

Jillian Rayfield | October 18, 2010, 8:59AM

Doesn't it seem like just yesterday that New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino was criticizing Democrat Andrew Cuomo for taking his kids to a gay pride parade, and saying that being gay is not "an equally valid or successful option?" Well that's because it was pretty close to yesterday.

To be precise, six days after the Republican Paladino made his now infamous remarks, he had a near-complete change of heart, even going so far as to ask gay leaders to educate him on gay rights, and criticizing his Democratic opponent for not showing enough support for the gay community.

Here's a timeline of Paladino's whiplash-inducing turnaround, beginning on that fateful day, last Sunday, October 10...

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Andrew Cuomo

Paladino: Cuomo Isn't Showing Enough Support For Gay Rights

Jillian Rayfield | October 15, 2010, 4:45PM

Carl Paladino

Just days after Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino attacked his Democratic opponent Andrew Cuomo for attending a gay pride parade, his campaign sent out a campaign e-mail that that calls into question Cuomo's own support for gay rights.

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NY-GOV

Paladino Loses Endorsement Of Rabbi Yehuda Levin After Apologizing For Anti-Gay Remarks

Jillian Rayfield | October 13, 2010, 2:27PM

New York Gubernatorial Candidate Carl Paladino

Orthodox Rabbi Yehuda Levin has withdrawn his support from Republican New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, citing Paladino's apology to the gay community for his remarks earlier this week that he doesn't want children "to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option. It isn't."

Levin said today in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City that he can no longer support Paladino, "until such time as he straightens out."

Levin had been advising Paladino's outreach efforts to the Orthodox Jewish community, and had even contributed to Paladino's controversial speech in Brooklyn last Sunday: "I did not write [the speech]," Mr. Levin told the New York Times. "However, I did have some input into it -- and I stand ready to defend the content of it."

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NY-GOV

Did Paladino Really Say What It Sounds Like He Said? (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 12, 2010, 2:45PM

Carl Paladino

Another day, another foot in Carl Paladino's mouth?

Hotline On Call has obtained video of Paladino from March 26 at a town hall in Tappan, NY. Paladino is asked: "If you were the chief executive of New York, what would your response be if the attorney general of the United States decided to hold terrorist trials in Manhattan?"

Paladino appears to respond: "Fuck him." However, because the candidate isn't on video at the time, it's not totally clear that it's him who says this.

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Carl Paladino

Paladino: I Did Not Say What I Said About 'Homosexuals' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 11, 2010, 9:33AM

Carl Paladino

New York gubernatorial hopeful Carl Paladino (R) made the cable news rounds Monday, defending his weekend remarks that he doesn't want children "to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option. It isn't."

In several appearances, Paladino insisted "I'm not a homophobic. I have no reservations whatsoever about gays, except for marriage."

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Carl Paladino

Paladino's Big Three-Minute TV Buy A Big Let-Down

Jillian Rayfield | October 7, 2010, 6:01PM

Carl Paladino

The internet has been buzzing all day about Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino's big three-minute upstate New York TV-buy, which the New York Daily News first reported last night. But though the content was kept under wraps until the 5:13 EST spot today, the results were pretty anti-climactic for a candidate who's brought nothing but drama since he won the primary...

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NY-GOV

PPP Poll: Cuomo Up 15 On Paladino In NY-GOV Race

Marc Kilstein | October 5, 2010, 3:58PM

Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino

PPP's first survey of the New York gubernatorial race finds Democratic state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo up 53%-38% on Republican nominee Carl Paladino.

The latest poll is right on the heels of a Siena poll that found Cuomo leading the race 56%-32%. That survey also saw 61% of respondents agreeing with the statement, "Carl Paladino is a loose cannon, who doesn't have the temperament to be governor."

The latest survey matches the TPM Poll Average: Cuomo is seen leading 53.2%-38.0%. The margin of error for the latest survey is ±4.0 percentage points.

For more on the race, check out TPMDC's full coverage here.

NY-GOV

Paladino: Cuomo 'Should Be In Jail' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 5, 2010, 12:14PM

Carl Paladino

In an interview with Alan Colmes last night, New York Republican gubernatorial nominee Carl Paladino said that his Democratic opponent Attorney General Andrew Cuomo "should be in jail, because he allowed [Steve] Rattner to walk."

Rattner, former "car czar" for the Obama Administration, was accused of being involved in a New York pension fund scam that was under criminal investigation in April 2009. And Paladino said he would "absolutely" have Cuomo prosecuted if elected governor.

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Carl Paladino

Siena Poll: 61% Say Paladino A 'Loose Cannon' Without Temperament To Be Governor

Jillian Rayfield | October 5, 2010, 11:31AM

Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino

A new Siena poll of likely voters has found Democrat Andrew Cuomo leading Republican Carl Paladino 56%-32% in the race for New York governor.

In addition, the poll finds that 61% agree with the statement "Carl Paladino is a loose cannon, who doesn't have the temperament to be governor," compared to 34% who disagree.

The previous Siena poll, from Sept. 21, showed Cuomo ahead of Paladino and Rick Lazio (who has since dropped out) 57%-24%-8%.

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NY-GOV

Paladino Walks Back Walk-Back: I Really Do Have Proof Of A Cuomo Affair (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 1, 2010, 4:03PM

To accuse Andrew Cuomo of an affair, or not to accuse Andrew Cuomo of an affair -- that is the question that's been plaguing Carl Paladino this week.

And on Megyn Kelly's Fox News show today, Paladino again suggested that he's got proof: "We will at the appropriate time say whatever we have in our box. At the appropriate time."

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Carl Paladino

Paladino On Confronting Reporter: I Was Protecting My Family

Jillian Rayfield | September 30, 2010, 5:29PM

New York Gubernatorial Candidate Carl Paladino

Carl Paladino's campaign released a statement today regarding last night's New York Post reporter-threatening incident, and defended the Republican gubernatorial nominee's actions as "protecting his family."

Paladino claims that Post Editor Fred Dicker was involved in sending photographers to take pictures of Paladino's 10-year-old daughter, whom he had with a woman who is not his wife. The intrusion, the release said, makes the girl "susceptible to kidnapping or sexual predators." It adds: "Endangering the safety of a 10-year-old child is repugnant."

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NY-GOV

Marist Poll: Cuomo Leading Paladino By 16 In NY-GOV Race

Jillian Rayfield | September 30, 2010, 4:18PM

Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino

A Marist survey of likely voters shows Democratic candidate Andrew Cuomo leading Republican Carl Paladino 56%-40% in the race for New York governor.

The last Marist poll, released last week, showed Cuomo leading 53%-34%, though that survey also polled for Rick Lazio, who hinted he might run on a third-party ticket but dropped out this week.

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NY-GOV

Lazio Withdraws From NY-GOV Race, Will Reportedly Get Judgeship Nomination

Jillian Rayfield | September 27, 2010, 12:28PM

NY gov. candidate Rick Lazio (R)

Rick Lazio announced that he is dropping out of the race for New York governor today, ending speculation that he might run on the Conservative Party line.

Lazio, who will reportedly be nominated for a judgeship in the Bronx tonight, said he is dropping out in a press conference today. In his remarks, he called his victorious primary opponent Carl Paladino "flawed," City Hall News reports.

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NY-GOV

Cuomo Ad Slams 'Welfare King' Paladino (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 24, 2010, 12:26PM

Andrew Cuomo campaign ad, "One Job"

Andrew Cuomo has a new pair of ads out in the New York gubernatorial race. And just like the polls, the ads are amazingly different. One plays up Cuomo's accomplishments in helping a woman with breast cancer fight her insurance company -- and the other is hard on the attack against surprise Republican nominee Carl Paladino.

The negative ad goes after Paladino's business record, citing a newspaper column that called him a "welfare king." The charge seems designed to contradict Paladino's street cred as a Tea Party candidate.

"Who is Carl Paladino? A landlord and developer who has given politicians almost a half-million dollars and gets insider deals from Albany," the announcer says. "Carl Paladino got a $1.4 million Empire Zone tax break to create jobs. But his official filings show only one job was created. A $1.4 million tax break for one job? Carl Paladino -- a welfare king who got rich by milking New York taxpayers."

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NY-GOV

Marist Poll: Cuomo Up 19 On Paladino In NY-GOV Race

Marc Kilstein | September 24, 2010, 11:56AM

Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino

A new Marist poll of the New York gubernatorial race out this morning shows Democratic state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo up 53%-34% on Republican nominee Carl Paladino, with Rick Lazio -- the Republican primary loser who is reportedly considering a Conservative Party run -- pulling in 10%.

Including today's survey, five polls have been released on the race this week, and results have been anything but consistent. Two of the polls find Paladino in striking distance of Cuomo: a September 21 SurveyUSA poll had the Republican down 49%-40%, while a September 20 Quinnipiac poll produced only a six-point deficit for Paladino. A Siena poll released yesterday, on the other hand, found Cuomo ahead by 33 points, 57%-24%. Similarly, a September 16 Rasmussen poll had the Democrat up big, 54%-38%. Marist hadn't looked at this race since early May, when the hypothetical Cuomo-Paladino matchup found the Democrat cruising, 67%-22%.

The TPM Poll Average finds Cuomo ahead of Paladino 52.6%-36.6%. The margin of error for today's Marist poll is ±4.0 percentage points.

For more on the race, check out TPMDC's full coverage here.