New York City Councilwoman Vicki Paladino told Newsmax Saturday that it's "time to rein in" New York Gov. Kathy Hochul over action Democrats are taking to delay until November the special election to fill the seat previously held by former Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican.
"This is stepping way out of line," the GOP councilwoman said on Newsmax's "Wake Up America Weekend." "This is a 100-year-old law that's on the books ... these are all the people that scream, 'Democracy, democracy.' And yet they are the first ones to step in when they're threatened to move and change."
New York lawmakers Friday introduced a bill to allow Hochul, a Democrat, to pause special elections, meaning that Stefanik's seat could remain open until the November general election.
The state's Democrat-majority Legislature is expected to pass the bill, drawing outcry from Republicans, reports Politico.
Stefanik has been tapped by President Donald Trump to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
"This is an anti-democratic power grab by Albany Democrats, drunk on the power of one-party rule, to set elections whenever it benefits them, even if that means New Yorkers go without due representation in government," Republican chairman Ed Cox said in a statement.
Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., has sent a formal letter to the Department of Justice seeking a racketeering investigation in connection with the Democrats' proposal.
Paladino told Newsmax that Hochul is "dangerous" and the Democrats are "losing their minds."
"This is desperation, once again, at its finest," she added. "Bring in the DOJ. OK, let's do some examinations here. Elise's seat will be vacated this week. They have between 70 and 80 days within the law to do what they are supposed to do."
Meanwhile, Paladino said she thinks it's "great" to see Democrats like Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and New York City Mayor Eric Adams say they're open to working with Trump.
"Everybody claims because [Adams is] up against all these different things he has to go to court for and this and that, he's doing this to seek a release from our president, from Trump," she said. "I think Adams is saying things that he's wanted to say all along. And now he's got a little bit more of a spine or a soapbox in which to stand on, because Trump did so well here in the city."
Paladino added that she finds it "embarrassing for the Democratic Party" to be reacting as it is.
"I have a lot of friends in the Democratic Party," she said. "I think they find it equally as appalling, and I think they wish these people would just step aside and be quiet and play by the rules. They're fed up too."
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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