If there’s one thing that can be said about voting in New York City general elections, it is that almost every year, voters have plenty of races to decide.
Sure, the big races that are making the headlines lead the ballot: The governor’s race between incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman; the statewide races for attorney general and comptroller; and the various House of Representatives races that will help decide which party controls Congress in January.
But while everyone’s talking about the big midterm races, let’s not forget all the downballot contests, each of which is just as important to the future of local and state government. Voters are being asked to choose their representatives in the state Assembly and Senate; those decisions will impact what gets done in Albany next year, and in the years to come.
There are a host of judicial races on the ballot, too. Who we decide to take the seats up for grabs on the state Supreme and Civil Courts impacts the future of justice in New York and set new legal precedent that will be used to decide future cases.
And in the five boroughs, there are five different ballot questions that aim not just to change the City Charter, but also could change the very physical landscape of the Big Apple.
The questions were put forth by Mayor Mamdani’s Commission on Governmental Efficiency (COGE), a riff on the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). But while DOGE seemed to focus on government finances, COGE acted as a charter revision commission, putting forth these ballot questions aimed at streamlining city regulations and cutting through red tape where it can.
Some last-minute advice for New York voters on Election Day
