At least six Congressional seats and at least a dozen State Senate districts are in play, Jay Jacobs tells the Max & Murphy Show.
In the marquee race on Nov. 3, the fate of New York State’s electoral votes is all but a foregone conclusion: The Empire State has not gone Republican in a presidential election since 1984. But competitive elections for lower offices are being contested across the state, with as many as 20 posts possibly shifting from one party to the other, according to New York’s Democratic Party chairman.
Jay Jacobs, speaking to WBAI’s Max & Murphy Show on Wednesday, said Democratic incumbent Congressmen Anthony Brindisi, Antonio Delgado and Max Rose face stiff challenges, with Rose “in the fight of his life,” while Democratic challengers Dana Balter (upstate) and Nancy Goroff (Long Island) stand a chance of unseating incumbent Republicans John Katco and Lee Zeldin, respectively. Meanwhile, the fight for the seat that retiring Republican Rep. Pete King is giving up between Democrat Jackie Gordon and Republican Andrew Garbarino is considered a toss-up.
Democrats are hoping to pick up some of the 10 State Senate seats vacated by Republicans retiring or moving to another office. The Dems will also have to play defense, however: Jacobs identified Sens. Monica Martinez (District 3), Jim Gaughran (District 5), Kevin Thomas (District 6) and Pete Harckham (District 40) as vulnerable.
Hear the conversation with Jacobs above—including a discussion of the rivalry between the Democrats and the Working Family Party—or listen to the full show below, which includes your hosts breaking down the contests they will be watching on Nov. 3.
