BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

Correction: An early version of this story included the wrong last name for Blake Gendebien's Campaign Manager Emily Goldson. North Country This Week regrets the error.

State lawmakers are pushing forward with legislation that, if passed, would likely leave Rep. Elise Stefanik's Congressional seat vacant until the next general election on Nov. 4.

The news broke as state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced plans to introduce legislation that would change the timeline for special elections.

The major hangup is whether the legislation is passed before Stefanik resigns, as she is expected to in the near future when she is confirmed as President Donald Trump's ambassador to the United Nations.

If passed before her resignation, the legislation would likely mean that the special election date would be pushed from April to Nov. 4. That would leave Stefanik's seat vacant for nearly the entire legislative session and the North Country without representation, critics of the legislation say.

A date for a vote to confirm Stefanik has not yet been set by the Senate, but Democrats have already rallied behind candidate Blake Gendebien, a Lisbon farmer, to run for the New York 21st Congressional District.

Gendebien said his campaign’s already raised more than  $1 million in donations. He was criticized recently by Republicans for comments he made in a 2013 interview, which was on the Library of Congress website, but appears to have been removed within the past week.

The full interview is still available here.

Gendebien’s campaign manager Emily Goldson provided the following statement from Gendebien regarding Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to delay the election until November.

“I’m confident we’ll win whenever Election Day is because voters are looking for a change. Albany and Washington need to spend less time playing games, and more time cutting costs and securing the border. The North Country needs representation ASAP and deserves better than our current broken system. It’s time to send a farmer to fix it.”

Goldson did not immediately provide a response as to whether Gendebien supported Hochul’s election plan or if there was any information available about the removal of the controversial interview.

New York Democrats say the move will not only ensure a fair election with greater voter turnout but that it will also save taxpayers significant money by incorporating the special election into the next general election.

“Right now, New Yorkers are facing unprecedented challenges including the strain on our democracy and our high cost of living. At a time when people need our government to work more efficiently, this legislation is a common-sense approach that saves taxpayer dollars while maximizing voter turnout,” Stewart-Cousins said on Friday, Feb. 7.

“In this moment of national uncertainty, we must protect democratic participation while ensuring the government remains fiscally responsible. This legislation achieves both," she continued.

But state Senator Dan Stec accused Democrats of subverting voters in what he called a "blatant attempt to subvert" President Trump's "America first" policies.

“Democrat leaders have no shame and no limits to their political ambition. Despite widespread outcry and scorn from voters, good government organizations and elected officials, they’ve introduced legislation to delay a potential special election in NY-21. This bill isn’t about saving taxpayers money; if it was, Governor Hochul wouldn’t be proposing a bloated $252 billion budget. This is about one thing: subverting President Trump’s popular America First agenda and denying the North Country needed representation in Congress," Stec said.

Stec called Democrats "out of touch with the needs of the region, state and nation," in his prepared statement.

"Instead of working on behalf of the greater good, they’re choosing pettiness and obstructionism. But that doesn’t matter to Democrat leaders like Governor Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. They’re so blinded with Trump Derangement Syndrome they’ll hold our region hostage in an effort to thwart his popularly elected agenda," he said.

Stec said he was "disgusted" by the bill, further accusing Democrats of being "blinded with Trump Derangement Syndrome."

Senator Mark Walcyzk was also critical of the push to pass legislation altering the election schedule. 

“The special elections bill that was introduced by Speaker Heastie and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins will undo the 2021 reform and result in New Yorkers being disenfranchised and unrepresented. Senator Walczyk is prepared to fight against this proposal, ensuring that all 776,971 residents in NY-21 continue to have a voice,” Walcyzk said in a prepared statement.

Help St. Lawrence County Stay Connected!

We’re glad you read this article reported by the staff of NorthCountryNow.com.

If you haven’t done so already, please consider subscribing to ensure you have full access to all the news and info about St. Lawrence County.

Your subscriptions make it possible for us to provide trustworthy local news, promote our many community events, and encourage community dialogue.

Please click here to subscribe today!