Politics
REPORT: ‘Secret’ Democrat Plot To Block Republicans’ House Majority Is Exposed
New York state lawmakers are weighing a proposal that could delay a special election to replace Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), a move that would temporarily shrink the GOP’s slim House majority for Republicans.
Multiple reports suggest that Democrats in the state legislature are considering changes to election law that would allow Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) to postpone special elections and align them with regularly scheduled primaries in June or even the general election in November. If approved, the effort could leave Stefanik’s seat vacant for months, making it harder for House Republicans to pass legislation with their already narrow margin.
President Trump nominated Stefanik as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik’s nomination cleared the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by a voice vote, and she could be confirmed as soon as this week.
The New York Post reported that legislators in both the state Senate and Assembly met Friday to discuss potential changes. If Democrats succeed, the seat—a safe GOP stronghold currently held by Stefanik—would remain vacant until at least the June primaries, possibly even the November general election.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – July 16, 2024: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) at the Republican National Convention.
That delay would prevent Republicans from filling the seat for over half a year, ensuring that House Democrats remain within striking distance of the majority. Due to their slim majority, House Republicans have already faced an uphill battle in passing legislation.
With one fewer seat, Democrats could gain significant leverage in key votes, particularly on government funding, tax reform, and immigration policy.
Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) wrote on X, “Kathy Hochul & Albany Democrat powerbrokers have been secretly plotting to rewrite New York election law in a matter of days—all to severely delay filling the soon-to-be vacant NY-21 seat when Elise Stefanik is confirmed as UN Ambassador.”
“They know a conservative Republican will always hold this seat, so they’d rather silence 778,000 North Country voters and leave the district without representation than face another GOP victory. This is nothing but a power-hungry ploy to stall President Trump’s America First agenda. Hochul doesn’t care about democracy—she only cares about control,” he finished.

VALHALLA, NY, USA – MAY 10, 2023: Governor Kathy Hochul delivers remarks about the debt limit on May 10, 2023 at SUNY Westchester Community College in Valhalla, New York, United States.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) told the Post, “This would be an outrageous abuse of power and expose Democrats hypocrisy when it comes to ‘protecting democracy.’ Kathy Hochul should make clear this will not happen.”
Upon Stefanik’s resignation, the House Republican majority will narrow to 217-215, placing significant power in the hands of any single Republican who might choose to break ranks, especially if all Democrats are unified against a bill. Once Stefanik officially steps down, Governor Hochul is required to call a special election within 10 days, with the election itself to occur between 80 and 90 days after her declaration.
However, the Democrat-controlled state legislature has the capability to amend these rules. Given their dominance in the legislature, such changes could be introduced as early as Monday, though the minority Republicans possess limited influence to affect the outcome.
While controversial, the move would likely be legally permissible if passed through the legislature and signed by the governor. Republicans could challenge it in court, but success would depend on whether judges see the delay as an unconstitutional disenfranchisement or a routine legislative adjustment.
If implemented, it would be a strategic move by Democrats to keep Stefanik’s seat vacant and make it harder for House Republicans to pass legislation in a narrowly divided Congress.
