NY Dems working to keep Stefanik’s House seat vacant for months in latest scheme against Trump: assemblyman

Democratic lawmakers in New York are making unprecedented moves to keep Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik’s House seat vacant until the summer, a decision that has drawn criticism from Republican Empire State Assemblyman Matt Slater. In an exclusive Zoom interview with Fox News Digital, Slater called out the Democrats for what he described as “blatant corruption” and accused them of changing the rules of engagement for their own self-interest.

Slater, who represents New York’s 94th district, expressed his concern over the Democrats’ proposal to introduce legislation that could delay the special election for Stefanik’s seat until June, coinciding with the state’s scheduled primary elections. This move comes as Stefanik is in the process of being confirmed as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a position that would require her to resign from her House seat.

Under current law, New York’s governor has a window of 10 days to declare a special election for a vacant seat and an additional 80 to 90 days to hold the election. Stefanik’s seat is crucial for the Republican Party and President Trump’s second administration, as Republicans hold a slim majority in the House.

The proposed legislation from the Democrats has not yet been introduced, but Slater anticipates receiving a copy of the bill soon. He criticized the Democrats for their efforts to change election laws in order to delay the special election, attributing their actions to a larger agenda aimed at opposing the second Trump administration.

Slater pointed to past instances where New York Democrats have used their state power to combat Trump and the Republican Party, including gerrymandering and stacking the state’s top court with Democrats. He accused the Democrats of depriving New Yorkers of proper representation in Washington and disrupting the Trump administration’s agenda.

Despite claims from Governor Kathy Hochul’s office that the proposal aims to increase voter turnout and reduce election administration costs, Slater argued that the Democrats’ motives are purely political. He highlighted the fact that the Democrats did not push for changes to special election laws last year when it favored their party, suggesting that their current actions are driven by the desire to control Republicans in Congress and disrupt Trump’s agenda.

While there are reports that the special election could be delayed until November, Slater expressed skepticism that Democrats would go that far. He called on New Yorkers to wake up and recognize the political nature of the Democrats’ actions, urging them to support President Trump’s agenda.

Stefanik, a staunch Trump ally and former Chair of the House Republican Conference, is expected to resign from the House if confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Slater’s criticism of the Democrats’ proposal underscores the partisan tensions in New York politics and the broader implications for the balance of power in Congress.