Why New York?
New York State has not historically been considered a swing state, but it is now. A number of US House districts in NYS that voted for Biden in 2020 voted for Republicans in 2022, which contributed to Republicans taking over the U.S. House majority. This year, Democrats have the opportunity to flip several of the state’s Republican seats. Swing Left has identified New York as one of 12 key states for 2024.
What’s happened so far in 2024?
Democrats won the February special election in NY-3 on Long Island to replace disgraced and expelled George Santos with Tom Suozzi. Grassroots groups from around the country, including Swing Blue Alliance, were involved with phone banking and post carding.
Swing Blue Alliance’s Jeff Lobo and Steve Vogel ran phone banks coordinated with the campaign twice weekly, with about 30 volunteers on each phone bank. The Swing Blue Alliance crew spoke with over 2,500 supporters, and recruited 80 volunteers for the campaign. Eight phone bankers travelled to Long Island to knock doors on the weekend of 1/20-21.
What are the next steps?
With the momentum from the win in NY-3, and President Biden’s State of the Union address, we are well-positioned for this year’s next NYS campaigns.
While Rep. Suozzi is up for re-election in November, it remains to be seen how much assistance will be needed in NY-3.
Democratic House candidates have yet to be determined in the statewide June 25 primary for the adjacent NY-4, as well as in NY-22, which contains the cities of Syracuse, Rome, and Utica.
In NY-17, just north of NYC, former Rep. Mondaire Jones is running against a MAGA incumbent. In NY-18, next to NY-19 in the Hudson Valley, incumbent Democrat Pat Ryan will defend the seat from a MAGA challenger. Swing Blue Alliance will be seeking opportunities to participate in all these campaigns.
Swing Blue Alliance has connected with the NY-19 Votes Coalition, which is closely coordinating with the campaign for Josh Riley, the Democratic candidate for NY’s 19th Congressional District. The Coalition will be working with the campaign to develop voter contact lists, and will start on phone banking, canvassing and post carding in late March to early April. Volunteers with nearby Massachusetts progressive groups including Left Field and Northampton Indivisible are especially interested in the Democratic-leaning eastern parts of NY-19, where extensive canvassing is planned. Contact your Swing Blue Alliance team leaders to get involved, or review the Coalition’s events at: https://www.mobilize.us/
Follow the link for the NY 19 Votes Coalition’s engagement survey to be notified of particular activities, or contact ny19votescoalition@gmail.com.