Statement From Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt Regarding the Signing of the Bill Ending Local Elections

With total disregard for the bipartisan opposition to this proposal, Governor Hochul shamefully signed a bill that effectively ends local elections in New York State. The touted benefits of this bill are a total sham concocted to hide the Democrat's goal of expanding one-party control to every level of government.

Local elected officials from both parties have raised serious concerns that moving local elections will quash discussion on important community issues and inject national partisan politics into races for our local offices. As a former Town Board member and County Clerk, Governor Hochul's personal experience in local government should have led her to do the right thing and veto this bill. Instead, she has sided with the radicals in Albany who are obsessed with consolidating their political control and stomping out any political balance in New York.