High-profile New York Democrats spar in disagreement over high court pick
© Provided by Washington ExaminerGov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) continues to face opposition from state legislators of her own party in her nomination of Judge Hector LaSalle for chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) joined Hochul on Saturday in calling for the New York Senate to support LaSalle's nomination. But multiple Democrats in the state Senate appear to be steadfast in their opposition to the judge, creating a contentious course leading up to Wednesday's confirmation hearing where all concerns are sure to be laid bare.
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Hochul has already accused Democratic lawmakers such as Deputy State Senate Majority Leader Michael Gianaris of "character assassination" for their objections to her nomination. Leftist state senators and labor leaders, conversely, see the governor's nomination as a betrayal, not just to the fabric of many Democratic ideals, but also to them personally because they helped her defeat Republican Lee Zeldin in last year's gubernatorial election.
"She promised us that we would have a seat at the table,” Jimmy Mahoney, the president of a statewide ironworkers union, said as labor leaders rallied against the nomination. “She put us on the menu. This is not right. The way it was rolled out, it was so unprofessional and backstabbing.”
The controversial nominee is accused of being too conservative for his position, with opponents to Hochul's pick suggesting LaSalle's past shows he does not support abortion or union rights. Several reproductive rights and justice groups are also against LaSalle's nomination.
Democrats hold a 42-member supermajority in the chamber and 14 Democrats have said publicly they will not back LaSalle, meaning Hochul would likely need votes from Senate Republicans.
If confirmed, LaSalle would be the first Latino to lead New York's seven-member high court and oversee the state's judicial system.
The lead-up to this week's confirmation hearing underscores a growing and distressing downward trend for New York Democrats. Zeldin's close contest with incumbent Hochul in last November's election surprised many (he lost 52.9%-47.1%). A narrow 222-213 GOP House majority exists largely because of Republican victories in New York congressional races. And in the 2022 gubernatorial race, all 62 New York counties shifted toward the right from the 2020 presidential election, per the Times Union in Albany.
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Clearly, Republicans have gained momentum in New York, a high-profile state known for going blue. Wednesday's hearing is sure to put on display all the disagreements New York Democrats have concerning the governor, LaSalle, and each other. If the conflict continues, the strife among the party could be a harbinger of conservative success in 2024 and beyond.
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Tags: New York, Kathy Hochul, Hakeem Jeffries, Democrats, Republicans
Original Author: Conrad Hoyt
Original Location: High-profile New York Democrats spar in disagreement over high court pick