New York State's new Public Campaign Finance Program (PCFP) kicked into high gear this year. Total disbursements from the program are approaching $20 million, with far more to come.
Three hundred twenty-nine legislative candidates originally applied to participate in the program. Through the end of June most of the dispersed funds went to candidates who were involved in competitive primaries. Now the focus through the remainder of the year will be on general election candidates who are in competitive races.
Candidates are required to document contributions to their committees in amounts ranging from five to two-hundred-and fifty dollars. Donors must be individuals residing in the legislative district. Donated dollars are matched on a declining scale ranging from twelve dollars per dollar contributed for the first $50 of a contribution; nine dollars per dollar contributed for the next $100 of a contribution; and eight dollars per dollar donated for the next $100. All donations must be documented with information concerning the contributors' addresses and places of employment.
The intent of the program is to level the playing field for candidates who are new and/or do not have access to large contributions. It appears that in looking at some legislative races in Western New York this year, the program could have an impact in some races.
Local candidates who have thus far received state funds include the following:
- Marc Priore, the Republican candidate in the 142nd Assembly District, has received $69,175.
- Patrick Chludzinski, the Republican candidate in the 143rd Assembly District, has received $110,317.
- Republican Assemblyman Michael Norris (144th District) received the maximum amount, $175,000.
- Darci Cramer, the Democratic candidate for Assembly in the 147th District, has received $66,678.
- Joseph Sempolinski, the Republican candidate in the 148th Assembly District, has received $123,642.
- Mitch Martin, who challenged and lost to incumbent David DiPietro in the Republican primary in the 147th Assembly District, received $91,172. Martin spent more than $130,000 in the primary.
The value of the state funds can be viewed in conjunction with funds that campaigns have directly raised thus far based on mid-July financial filings. Here is where it gets interesting:
- The incumbent Democratic Assemblyman in the 142nd District, Pat Burke, reported $27,469 in his treasury in July. His Republican opponent, Marc Priore, reported $10,482, but now has added $69,175 in state funds to that amount, putting his campaign account at nearly three times that of Burke's. Priore can continue to draw additional state funds based on his own fundraising activities.
- The Democratic incumbent in the 143rd Assembly District, Monica Wallace, reported a campaign balance of $164,626 in mid-July. Her Republican opponent, Patrick Chludzinski, reported a balance of $10,065. But Chludzinski's receipt of $110,317 in state funds, with more potentially to come, has brought him into a more competitive financial position with Wallace.
- Incumbent 147th District Assemblyman DiPietro reported having a balance of $16,388 after having spent $138,838 in his successful primary. His Democratic opponent, Darci Cramer, showed a balance of $10,641 besides recently adding $66,678 in state funds to that amount. That leaves Cramer at the moment with nearly five times the cash on hand that DiPietro has reported.
For candidates participating in the PCFP, there are continuing opportunities to receive more public funding as they directly raise their own cash. On the other hand, the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee as of mid-July had nearly $5.8 million cash on hand that can be used to help the accounts of candidates such as Burke and Wallace. The Republican Assembly Campaign Committee reported less than $900,000 in July, but they can choose to supplement the accounts of candidates who they view as competitive.
There are still three months to go in Election 2024. Multiple factors, including party enrollment and the enthusiasm impact that the presidential candidates might have on voter turnout, will play important roles in determining how state legislative elections turn out. It appears that public campaign financing in New York State could also be a factor affecting the outcomes.
A new federal judgeship in WNY
The Buffalo News this past weekend reported on the possible creation of an additional federal district judgeship for the Western District of New York (WDNY). Legislation was approved by the Senate and awaits action in the House of Representatives. In announcing the legislation, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer noted that the WDNY "has long sought a 5th full time federal district judge to address its severe case backlogs, which have ranked among the worst in the nation."
All well and good except that the proposed legislation creating the 66 new judgeships provides that the action will stretch over the next eleven years. The new judgeship for the WDNY will not come online until January 2031, about six- and one-half years from now.
Public interest in politics and government reporting
A recent survey by Pew Research reported:
"Americans want information about local government and politics. Most say they are at least somewhat interested in news about local laws and policies and local elections. And about two-thirds say they often or sometimes get local political news – higher than the shares who get news on several other local topics, including the economy and sports.
"But among Americans who get news on local politics, only a quarter are highly satisfied with the quality of the news they get, according to a new Pew Research Center survey…
"Americans also do not widely see it as easy to find the news and information they need to take part in the local political process. Fewer than half of U.S. adults (45%) say it is very or somewhat easy to find the information they need to make voting decisions in local elections…
"There is virtually no difference between Democrats and Republicans (including independents who lean toward each party) in the shares who say it is easy to find the information they need to vote locally. But younger adults are less likely than those ages 50 and older to say it is easy to be an informed local voter."
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