NYS Democratic Party outlines effort to reclaim house majority

Long Island Morning Edition

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A memo released yesterday by the NYS Democratic Party outlining its effort to "reclaim the House majority" represents a goal state chair Jay Jacobs says he’s advocated for ever since he first took the role in 2009.

The idea of having the state party take an active role in federal and state contests other than gubernatorial races is nothing new. But Jacobs told Randi F. Marshall of NEWSDAY that it wasn’t something former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who first took office in 2011, ever supported. Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi, however, told Politico’s New York Playbook that under the former governor, the state party had indeed supported other races, including sinking $2 million into ads for State Senate races.

Jacobs said he talked with Kathy Hochul about the idea "within weeks" of her becoming governor after Cuomo resigned. And the party, Jacobs said, did open field offices and provide personnel, volunteers and money, for the 2022 races that followed.

That wasn’t enough at the time.

But Jacobs, also the Nassau County chair, said this is the first time in recent memory that the state party is playing a role in an election year that doesn’t involve a gubernatorial race at all.

The memo said the campaign will mount an effort worth more than $5 million, with more than 80 staff members on the ground by mid-August and 35 field offices opened. The memo said the focus will be to "protect our two swing-state Democratic incumbents and flip five Republican-held seats."

Twelve of those campaign offices will be on Long Island, including the east end’s 1st Congressional District , where Democrat John Avlon is running against Republican Rep. Nick LaLota

CD1 "is an uphill climb but doable, and under the right circumstances, we can win there," Jacobs said, noting it needed people, money and resources.

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There is an Offshore Wind Open House at Rogers Memorial Library, 91 Coopers Farm Road, Southampton, NY 11968, on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

Registration Encouraged , Walk-ins Welcome!

The Rogers Memorial Library invites you to join New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York State agencies, and offshore wind project developers to learn about the State’s work to responsibly develop offshore wind to advance the critical clean energy targets of New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. That's tomorrow from 12 noon to 2pm at Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton.

Then the day after, on Thursday, August 1st, there is an Offshore Wind Open House & Union Apprenticeship Awareness Day at Stony Brook University Research & Development Park Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) 1500 Stony Brook Road, Stony Brook, NY 11794

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), in collaboration with Stony Brook University’s Economic Development team, will convene offshore wind developers and workforce partners to create an interactive environment and facilitate dialogue about offshore wind development in New York State. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak directly with representatives from Long Island labor unions and company representatives about future careers in this industry.

Also, local high school students from neighboring communities will be attending Thursday to meet with potential employers and learn about apprenticeships in the offshore wind industry. The public is invited to this free event with lunch being served.

Registration is encouraged but not required.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Stony Brook University’s Economic Development Team presentation is this coming Thursday, August 1, 2024 from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

WHERE: Stony Brook University Research & Development Park Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) 1500 Stony Brook Road, Stony Brook, NY 11794