Albany, NY, Aug 05, 2011 — Senate Republicans appear to be changing their minds about how they would like to count prison inmates when they redraw New York's new district lines. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Apr 18, 2011 — Former New York city Mayor Ed Koch last week launched robocall attacks on state legislators, many of them Senate Republicans. Koch says they have violated a pledge they signed to back non-partisan redistricting.
As Karen DeWitt reports, it's not just the Republicans who are wary of changes to the way New York designs its legislative and congressional district lines.  Go to full article

Washington, DC, Apr 15, 2011 — North Country Congressman Bill Owens lashed out at Republicans' plan to reduce the federal deficit while backing President Obama's. Speaking in a telephone town hall meeting Thursday, the Democrat from Plattsburgh attacked House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan's deficit reduction plan. Martha Foley reports.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Apr 08, 2011 — Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, who now leads a reform group, has declared the Leader of the State Senate "an enemy of reform", and says Senators have broken a pledge to carry out non partisan redistricting. Koch also says he's teaming up with Governor Andrew Cuomo to pressure lawmakers over the issue. Karen Dewitt reports.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Mar 15, 2011 — Senate Republicans and Democrats argued over the issue of redrawing new district lines yesterday. Many Republicans campaigned last November on promises to put the politically charged process of redistricting into the hands of an independent commission. As Karen Dewitt reports, pressure is mounting on the Senate GOP to follow through.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Oct 06, 2010 — In a press release announcing his withdrawal from the 23rd CD race yesterday, Doug Hoffman wrote, "I entered the 23rd Congressional District race for the good of our nation and to represent the common sense beliefs and values of the voters of upstate New York. Our nation is at a crossroads and it is imperative that on Election Day we wrest control of Congress from Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat majority."

He strongly urged his supporters to "not vote for me and certainly not vote for the Democrat or Working Families Party candidate."

Hoffman offers a clear endorsement of Matt Doheny, the Republican in the contest. "Matt Doheny and I may have differed on some issues during the course of our primary race. Now, we must put those differences aside and do what is best for our nation. So today, I am asking all my supporters to cast their vote for Matt Doheny on Election Day, November 2nd."

Jude Seymour has followed this race, and last year's special election, as political reporter for the Watertown Daily Times.
He told David Sommerstein Hoffman's endorsement of Doheny is bound to be a plus for the Republican.  Go to full article

Gouverneur, NY, Aug 17, 2010 — Republican candidates for the 23rd Congressional district seat are making late summer pushes toward a September primary. Alexandria Bay businessman Matt Doheny has shored up support from the GOP establishment. All of the party's county chairs have endorsed him. Tea Party insurgent Doug Hoffman says he relishes the outsider status, just as he did in last year's special election that brought him to within a few percentage points of Democrat and Congressman Bill Owens. Hoffman trails Doheny significantly in fundraising. Lacking the get-out-the-vote infrastructure of a major party, Hoffman will need a big grassroots push to win. As David Sommerstein reports, whether he gets it is the central question of his campaign.  Go to full article

Ogdensburg, NY, Apr 26, 2010 — Republicans nationwide believe they're riding favorable winds to big victories in November. And the sail is emblazoned with a simple message: fiscal conservatism. The details of how the GOP would downsize government - and what that would mean for North Country jobs - is still a bit fuzzy.

Republican candidates held a meet-and-greet in Ogdensburg last week. David Sommerstein took the opportunity to ask them what they'd cut.  Go to full article

Ogdensburg, NY, Apr 23, 2010 — Suffolk County executive Steve Levy brought his campaign for Governor to Ogdensburg on Wednesday. He mingled with St. Lawrence County Republicans at a meet-the-candidates night at the Freighthouse restaurant. Levy switched parties from Democrat to Republican for this race. Some of his Democratic donors are demanding he return their campaign contributions. Levy told David Sommerstein he would not allow a late state budget if he were Governor. He says if the legislature couldn't pass a budget by the deadline, his executive budget would take effect.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Apr 16, 2010 — For the second year in a row, Tea Party activists across the country used "Tax Day" as a rallying point for protests against government spending and taxation. About 60 sign-waving people held a lunchtime protest in front of the Statehouse in Montpelier, Vermont. A group gathered last night in Plattsburgh, where gubernatorial candidate and Suffolk County executive Steve Levy was a featured speaker. Some 40 people waved flags and homemade signs to passing cars on Canton's main intersection. Martha Foley reports.  Go to full article