As political battles heat up heading into the midterm elections, New York voters are set to play a crucial role in deciding which parties take control of power in Albany and Washington, D.C.
USA TODAY Network journalists across New York have been digging into the stories that shed light on the candidates and key issues, striving daily to give New Yorkers valuable information before ballots are cast Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Statehouse reporter Emily Barnes has been delivering in-depth analysis of fallout from this year’s legislative session, while closely tracking developments in the governor’s race and clashes between New York lawmakers and the Trump administration.
Thomas Zambito, our state team reporter covering energy, transportation and economic issues,
has kept New Yorkers informed about everything from lawmakers’ rollback of a landmark climate protection law to their efforts to curb rising utility bills and create jobs.
Most recently, Chris McKenna — who’s covering key local, state and national political issues for our state team — landed an exclusive deep dive into the strategy of New York’s Republican Party heading into elections.
What USA TODAY Network revealed about New York Republicans
From a gala at The Plaza Hotel in Manhattan that featured Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and a Rockland County rally headlined by President Donald Trump to a campaign stop for New York gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman, McKenna has been there on the political frontlines.
Taken together, his reporting has revealed the playbook that Republicans assert will help them forge a turnaround after decades in the political wilderness.
As he wrote: New York Republicans were yearning for a comeback after a closer-than-expected governor’s race in 2022 and a Trump-ward shift in the state’s blue electorate two years later.
Both seemed promising trends for a party that hasn't won a statewide race since 2002 and lost its last grip on power in Albany in 2018, when Democrats wrested the Senate majority from them.
But 18 months into Trump’s second presidency, “chances of a resurgence seem remote,” McKenna added, citing recent polling, fundraising gaps and other political trends.
For Republicans, he noted, there's still hope for a revival, based on voter frustration with high living costs and the fact that Democrats hold all power in Albany.
And USA TODAY Network continues to report on the myriad political issues that impact New Yorkers’ lives, with a goal of improving public understanding of and engagement with the electoral process.
If you subscribe to any of the USA TODAY Network’s New York news outlets, including The Journal News/lohud, thank you for making this work possible.
David Robinson is the New York State Team Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at drobinson@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY Republicans make their case to regain power. How we reported it
