This week- Blakeman Sues for State Matching Funds; Nassau 4th C.D. Candidate Withdraws; Litigation Updates; State Census Funding On the Table; State Voting Rights Act Preclearance Action; Campaigns Delinquent in State BOE Filings; Around the Nation from @RedistrictNet
ELECTIONS
Blakeman v. New York State Public Campaign Financing Board
On Tuesday, March 31 the New York Public Campaign Finance Board (PCFB) voted in a 4-3 decision along party lines to deny Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman public campaign matching funds in his race because Blakeman’s running mate, Madison County sheriff Todd Hood, did not submit the required paperwork by the deadline.
On Wednesday, April 8, Blakeman filed suit in Albany County Supreme Court claiming that the Board improperly disqualified him from receiving public matching funds. First, Blakeman alleges that the PCFB did not notify either him or Hood of any change in their status, but rather effectively denied them from participating in the program which was arbitrary and capricious. This stems from Blakeman’s allegations that at the time of the board’s decision, the PCFB had not yet created or published the specific form required to designate a running mate for the matching funds program.
Blakeman further alleges that the four Democrats acted in “bad faith” to harm the Republican and to benefit the Democratic candidate, Governor Kathy Hochul. Without public matching funds, Blakeman could remain almost $20 million behind Governor Hochul in campaign funding.
As of now, the Hochul campaign and state Democratic Party have not filed any complaints or challenged Blakeman’s participation in the public campaign matchings funds program.
NY-4 Congressional Seat: Nassau County GOP Candidate Withdraws
On Thursday, April 9, Nassau County GOP leaders’ pick, former Valley Stream Mayor John A. DeGrace, declined to accept nomination to run in the June 23 primary against Democratic Rep. Laura Gillen for Congress.
Monday, April 6 at midnight was the filing deadline for congressional candidates to submit enough signatures to the county Board of Elections for them to appear on primary ballots. If DeGrace withdraws after petitions are filed, as he did here, the decision on how to replace him on the ballot falls to a panel of five Republicans including GOP committee chairman, Joseph Cairo.
The move comes after speculation that Republicans might switch to backing former GOP Rep. Anthony D’Esposito in a bid to take back the seat he lost to Gillen in 2024.
Historically, waiting this late to switch in a preferred candidate for Congress is unusual, but does have precedent. In 1998, the late Rep. Thomas Manton (D-Queens) declined a nomination to run for reelection on the last day to withdraw after his petitions had been submitted. That made it possible for Queens Democrats to replace him with Joe Crowley, who went on to win the seat.
The Nassau County GOP, under election law, now has four days from DeGrace’s official declination to pick someone to fill the ballot vacancy.
LITIGATION
New York Republican State Committee v. Hochul
The federal court challenge to New York’s Even-Year Election Law remains in its early stages with no meaningful movement to report. Filed in October 2025, shortly after the New York Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the statute against state constitutional challenge, the amended federal complaint brings First and Fourteenth Amendment claims alongside a Section 2 Voting Rights Act theory, arguing that mandatory election consolidation burdens political association and dilutes local voting strength. As of early 2026, the case has not advanced beyond preliminary procedural phases: no injunction has been granted, no dispositive motions have been resolved, and the Even-Year Election Law remains fully operative for the 2026 election cycle. Briefing and motion practice on threshold issues, including statutory interpretation and federal preemption, are expected to shape the litigation’s next phase. A pre-motion conference will be held by the court on May 12th.
United States v. Board of Elections of the State of New York
The DOJ’s federal enforcement action against New York over unredacted voter registration data continues to move through early-stage motion practice in the Northern District of New York, with no merits ruling or interim relief issued to date. The dispute centers on whether the NVRA, HAVA, and Title III of the Civil Rights Act require New York to hand over complete voter registration records, including dates of birth and residential addresses, or whether the State satisfies its federal obligations by producing its publicly available, redacted list. The DOJ recently filed a Declaration of Eric Neff and supporting memorandum in connection with its cross-motion to compel production, opposing New York’s and intervenohrs’ motions to dismiss. The NAACP and League of Women Voters have intervened as defendants, raising voter privacy and chilling-effect concerns. New York’s existing disclosure practices remain in effect while the case proceeds toward what is shaping up to be a statutory interpretation battle with significant federalism implications.
CENSUS
State Census Funding Still Pending in Legislative Negotiations
The New York State Census Partnership reports that is pleased to let you know that the State Senate, Assembly, and Governor hochul are ll supporting funding for Census 2030 activities in the budget to be adopted by April for the new state fiscal year.
The State Senate is supporting a $30 million allocation to create a state census office in the Department of State while the Assembly supports a $3 million expenditure for a census office and $20 million for census grants to support the work of local governments and non-profit and community based organizations. This represents a a major step forward from Governor Cathy’s Hochul’s original request for only $3 million for state census activity.
Members of the Census Partnership are supporting the Senate’s allocation of $30 million and urge the Governor and Assembly to agree.
Negotiations between the Senate, Assembly, and Governor are now taking place.
VOTING RIGHTS ACT
N.Y. Attorney General’s Office Preclearance
1101 Westchester County Board of Elections- poll site hours- granted
Westchester County Board of Elections must change its early voting hours on Juneteenth to be compliant with NY Election Law §8-600 (4) (c). In years past and this year, the Friday early voting hours are 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. This year, they would like early voting hours on Friday, June 19, 2026 to be changed to 9.
1181 New York City Board of Elections (Manhattan)- poll site location- additional information received
1201 Suffolk County Board of Elections- poll site locations- grants
All submissions can be viewed at: https://nyvra-portal.ag.ny.gov/
ELECTIONS
Campaigns Delinquent in Filing Information with State Board of Elections
In the Albany Times Union, Emilie Munson reported that “Since October 2023, the state Division of Election Law Enforcement — an independent arm of the Board of Elections — has filed court cases against at least 261 candidates and committees that have failed to file their campaign information or were delinquent, court records show.”
“Elections officials have also launched aggressive enforcement at the New York Public Campaign Finance Board, which oversees a program launched in 2024 that gives taxpayer-funded grants to certain candidates for public office. As of Monday, that board has filed court cases against 29 candidates and committees for missing or late reports, according to court filings.”
The board has been able to collect at least $11,000 in penalities while the Division of Election Law Enforcement has won court orders that would require campaign committees to pay more than $100,000 to the state agency.
Board of Elections attorney Brian Quail indicated that 3,451 campaigns failed to comply with disclosure laws in 2021.
AROUND THE NATION
From The Redistrict Network (@RedistrictNet)
March 30: A high-stakes political fight is brewing in Florida as Gov. Ron DeSantis presses for a rare mid-decade redraw of the state’s congressional map, even as some Republicans worry the move could backfire. — @RedistrictNet [from X]
March 31: A three-judge panel has determined it does not have the power to overturn a congressional map drawn by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2022 and has dismissed the lawsuit claiming the redistricting plan is a partisan gerrymander. — @RedistrictNet [from X]
April 1: Mississippi lawmakers have opted not to redraw the state’s Supreme Court districts noting the upcoming decision in Louisiana v. Callais. The Court will hold a status conference once it receives notice of the Legislature’s lack of action. — @RedistrictNet [from X]
April 2: More than half of Florida voters say redrawing the state’s congressional map mid-decade is a bad idea, according to a new Emerson College poll. — @RedistrictNet [from X]
April 2: More than 10,000 Utahns have submitted the necessary paperwork to remove their signatures from the petition to Repeal Prop 4. — @RedistrictNet [from X]
April 7: The Missouri Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on whether the mere submission of referendum petition signatures paused the state’s new congressional map on May 12. — @RedistrictNet [from X]
April 8: Republican lawmakers in North Dakota, Utah, and South Dakota are placing measures on the November ballot that would raise the approval threshold to 60 percent for citizen amendments. — @RedistrictNet [from X]
April 10: The Missouri Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on May 12 over challenges to the compactness of the state’s congressional map. — @RedistrictNet [from X]
April 11: Satellite early voting locations are now open in multiple Virginia jurisdictions for the redistricting referendum. Election day is April 21. — @RedistrictNet [from X]
April 12: The “Vote Yes” campaign for Virginia’s redistricting referendum has raised more than $50 million. — @RedistrictNet [from X]
INSTITUTE RESOURCES
The New York Elections, Census and Redistricting Institute has archived many resources for the public to view on our Digital Commons Page.
Our Redistricting Resources page contains resources on the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act. You can access the page here: https://digitalcommons.nyls.edu/redistricting_resources/
Archived Updates can be accessed here: https://digitalcommons.nyls.edu/redistricting_roundtable_updates/
Please share this weekly update with your colleagues. To be added to the mailing list, please contact [email protected]
The N.Y. Elections, Census & Redistricting Institute is supported by grants from the New York Community Trust, New York Census Equity Fund, the Mellon Foundation, and the New York City Council. This report was prepared by Jeff Wice, Esha Shah,Alexandria Sanatore & Jason Fierman of @RedistrictNet.