Power & Politics: Vote 2025 recap and moving local elections to even years
This week's guest is state Sen. James Skoufis.
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Vote 2025 Recap
This week, we take a look at the results of this month's local elections and hear from the big winners as they outline their priorities moving forward.
We'll circle the Hudson Valley from Westchester to Rockland and Orange counties.
Local elections move to even years
This month, Republicans in several parts of New York, including Orange County, filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the state's even-year election law.
The law, which was upheld last month by the state's top court, moves races like town supervisor and county executive to even years. For example, Ken Jenkins, who just won a full term, will have to run again in 2028 after serving just three years.
Attorneys for the challengers argue the change violates the First Amendment.
“The Even-Year Election Law is unconstitutional and undemocratic,” the plaintiffs' lead counsel, William A. Brewer III, said. "It is an attempt to drown local voices, burden political speech, and erode the connection between voters and their local governments.”
Supporters of the change, including state Sen. James Skoufis, whose 2023 bill led to the change, said even-year local elections will boost voter turnout.
"We should all want a majority of voters picking who represents us in these critical offices and that's now what will start to happen in New York state," he said.
