BUFFALO, N.Y. — More than two decades after New York state intervened in Buffalo’s financial crisis, voters will decide Tuesday whether to rewrite parts of the city’s governing rules, including how its budget is reviewed and adopted.

Eleven proposed amendments to Buffalo’s City Charter will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. The proposals address everything from financial oversight and government vacancies to policing, human rights and election reform.

The race for New York’s 21st Congressional District is a tight one, according to polls.

On Monday, Vice President JD Vance was in Rome, New York to campaign for Republican candidate Anthony Constantino.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York saw a significant increase in early voting compared with the last midterm election in 2022. But what do those numbers actually tell us about voter engagement heading into Election Day?

Just shy of 2 million New Yorkers cast their ballots during the nine days of early voting this year, according to the state Board of Elections, which is a significant jump from the last midterm election of about 1.2 million New Yorkers. But more people voting early may not necessarily mean more people voting overall.

Republican incumbent Rob Rolison is seeking his third term as the state senator for New York’s 39th District, which includes Newburgh and Poughkeepsie. But Democratic Dutchess County Legislator Lisa Kaul will challenge Rolison for the seat.

Kaul immigrated to Poughkeepsie from India in 2004, served on the school board and founded the Poughkeepsie Repair Cafe. She’s represented the town in the county legislature since 2024. If elected, she wants to build out more public services for people.

With Election Day looming, Gov. Kathy Hochul combined politics with her favorite team - bringing Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to a bar in Astoria to watch the Buffalo Bills.

Hoping that her left flank is protected, Hochul was cheering on her favorite sports team at Murphy’s in Queens Sunday afternoon.

New Yorkers received additional good news about the state’s overall fiscal health Friday, even as individual economic struggles continue to play a key role in the campaign for governor.

New York state is facing a smaller budget gap than previously anticipated, according to a midyear financial update released by the state Division of the Budget on Friday, just four days before voters head to the polls to choose their next governor and with early voting underway.

While New York City is heavily Democratic overall, some neighborhoods are more politically purple — creating a handful of competitive races for the state Legislature.

In southern Brooklyn, Democrats are trying to take back seats won by Republicans. And in Rockaway, Queens, a GOP candidate is once again making his bid to be the peninsula’s first GOP assemblyman in decades.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — With Election Day just days away, two Republican candidates running for statewide office brought their campaigns to Western New York on Friday, criticizing their Democratic opponents over government spending, public safety and accountability.

Joseph Hernandez, the Republican candidate for state comptroller, promised to examine Buffalo’s troubled finances if elected, while attorney general candidate Saritha Komatireddy accused incumbent Letitia James of putting politics ahead of prosecuting crime.

Editor’s Note: Spectrum News 1 followed up with New York State Police on Friday, a day after publication, and they said the investigation is now closed and no criminal charges will be filed (October 30, 2026).

An Onondaga County judge believes incumbent Onondaga County Sheriff Tobias Shelley, a Democrat running for re-election, inappropriately attempted to influence him after the judge rescinded a pistol permit for one of the sheriff's top deputies, according to a leaked memo from the local district attorney.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — New York is enacting farther-reaching restrictions on companion chatbot behavior, as states increasingly move to protect children who use artificial intelligence, regulate how employers deploy AI systems and push developers to prevent an AI-caused catastrophe.

Legislation signed Wednesday by Gov. Kathy Hochul outlines a dozen definitions of “unsafe AI companion features” that will be prohibited when a companion chatbot interacts with a child under 18.

With Election Day less than a week away, New Yorkers are preparing to choose between Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, thereby deciding who will wield the tremendous amount of leverage and negotiating power that comes with New York’s executive-driven budget process.

In recent years, good-government watchdogs have shouted from the sidelines as Hochul has honed the craft of using the state budget process to grind down opposition within the state Legislature to all manner of policy initiatives and changes to state law stuffed into the annual executive budget proposal.

With Gov. Kathy Hochul predicting that a "Blue Wave" will sweep across New York state next month, her Republican rival Bruce Blakeman is trying to prove her wrong.

While both candidates have been campaigning hard across the state this month, they’ve almost been overshadowed at times by their most prominent supporters. For the governor, it’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani. For Blakeman, it’s President Donald Trump.

Control of Congress could be determined in New York state.

New York’s 17th Congressional District, in the northern suburbs of New York City, is a critical swing seat that will help determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the U.S. House.

In the latest Siena Poll, incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul increased her margin among independent voters over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman by a net 12 percentage points from September. While this poll had Hochul at 51% among independent voters and Blakeman at 40%, it was a much different story last month when Hochul was underwater with independent voters compared to Blakeman, 39% to 44%.

But conversely, the most recent Marist Poll showed Blakeman leading Hochul among independents, 49% to 42%.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — With Election Day less than a week away, New York Attorney General Letitia James is warning voters about potential intimidation at polling places, but Republicans are questioning whether her warning is creating unnecessary fear.

James issued a statement Tuesday reminding New Yorkers that armed federal agents, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, are prohibited from policing polling places under federal law.

The 19th Congressional District, which spans New York’s mid-Hudson Valley and Southern Tier, has been one of the swingiest districts in the state. It had been represented by Republican Marc Molinaro, but two years later, in a rematch, Josh Riley was victorious.

This time around, Riley is looking to buck the back and forth trend and secure another term in Washington.

With two polls giving her double-digit leads over Republican Bruce Blakeman, Gov. Kathy Hochul spent her morning campaigning on the Upper East Side today before signing two bills she says will help keep children safe from artificial intelligence in New York.

The East 77th subway entrance is a favorite campaign stop for politicians.

New York’s 24th Congressional District is a vast, mostly urban district where the average household income is less than $75,000 a year where the economy is a big issue.

It covers all or part of 14 different counties and stretches more than 7,000 square miles. The district is home to nearly 800,000 people and right now, many people are struggling.

Gov. Kathy Hochul's advantage over Republican rival Bruce Blakeman has grown in the latest Siena University poll, released Wednesday morning, and retains a strong advantage in the newly-released Marist poll.

In the Siena poll, Hochul's lead over Blakeman, the Nassau County executive and GOP nominee for governor, is now at 54% to Blakeman's 40%, up from her 50-41 advantage in September.

If Democrats flip four Republican-held House seats on Nov. 3, they will take control of the House, and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York will almost certainly become the first Black speaker in U.S. history.

It’s a feat Jeffries is reluctant to acknowledge.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Seneca Nation has secured another legal victory in its ongoing battle with the city of Buffalo over a $10 million gas station development, but a separate federal lawsuit could determine whether the property should have received federal protection in the first place.

State Supreme Court Justice Donna Siwek on Monday denied Buffalo’s request for a preliminary injunction to halt construction of the Seneca One Stop project on Miami Street in the city’s Old First Ward.

The race for the 17th Congressional District in the lower Hudson Valley is critical: Whichever party ends up controlling the House next year will likely need to win this seat.

Republican Rep. Mike Lawler is looking to keep his job for a third term in one of only three districts nationally that voted for Kamala Harris in 2024.

While much of the attention surrounding Election Day in New York is focused on the race for governor and congressional contests that could help determine the balance of power in Washington, several competitive state Senate races could have significant implications for the balance of power in Albany.

The possibilities in Albany range from subtle and symbolic — to seismic should favored Gov. Kathy Hochul not win her reelection bid against Republican Bruce Blakeman.

Since first taking office in 2007, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has taken a workman-like approach to the job that’s made him one of the more well-liked elected officials in Albany.

But his Republican challenger, Joseph Hernandez, has depicted DiNapoli as an ineffective career politician and tried to lump him in with more leftist Democrats.

Gov. Kathy Hochul wants New Yorkers to know that, amid her reelection bid, she’s playing a starring role in Democrats' attempt at shifting Washington’s balance of power this November.

“As the leader of the party, I have been invested heavily,” Hochul told NY1 in an exclusive interview Friday in Brooklyn.

ALBANY, N.Y. — As early voting gets underway in New York, the race for governor is also testing the political strength of two of the state’s most influential minor parties.

The Conservative and Working Families parties are backing opposing candidates in November, but both have something else at stake: maintaining their ballot status and demonstrating their influence over New York’s two major political parties.

Midterms are a week from Tuesday. Nationally, only 6.5% of midterm races are considered competitive, which means independent voters are key to individual races as well as to the balance of power in the House of Representatives.

Here in New York, unaffiliated voters make up over 25% of the state, yet they aren’t allowed to vote in primary elections in state. The question is, if independents are so critical to the outcome of these races, why should they be barred from primary elections?

Early voting is underway across New York, with turnout significantly outpacing the 2022 midterm elections as voters prepare to decide who will occupy the governor’s mansion on Eagle Street in Albany come the first of the year, and weigh in on several competitive congressional races.

More than 485,000 New Yorkers cast ballots during the first two days of early voting, compared to more than 262,000 during the same period four years ago. It’s an increase of approximately 85% in what political experts say is at least an initial leap in enthusiasm as Democrats hope to capture a surge reminiscent of gains made in 2018 and Republicans hope for another polling miss.

New York Democrats and Republicans were out in full force Saturday, trying to capture as much of the early vote momentum for their preferred candidates.

“Voting early you can do so in five minutes. I voted early, I was only called a communist once,” joked Mayor Zohran Mamdani after casting his vote early at the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — With Election Day on the horizon, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is once again taking a stance on a contentious issue: gun violence.

Hochul signed two pieces of gun safety legislation on Wednesday. The first, named Francesco’s Law, will require all gun owners to store their firearms in a safe, locked container or with trigger locks when not in use. It expands on previous legislation by making the storage mandatory for all gun owners. Previous legislation was limited to those with children in the home. The second law tightens restrictions on ammunition purchases. It prevents New York State Police from running ammunition background checks on people who are not legally allowed to purchase firearms.

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Democrat Nate McMurray and Republican Becky Wydysh are facing off in the race for the New York State Assembly 145th District seat.

The district spans parts of Niagara County, including Niagara Falls, plus Grand Island in Erie County. Spectrum News 1 sat down with both candidates to learn what makes their campaigns unique.

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York lawmakers have unanimously passed legislation aimed at bringing more transparency to automatic license plate readers, but questions remain about whether the proposed safeguards go far enough to protect drivers’ privacy.

Assembly Bill A563A would require the state’s Division of Consumer Protection to establish minimum standards for the use of automatic license plate readers by nongovernmental and non-law-enforcement entities.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — With just days until Election Day in New York, both Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul and her Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman’s campaigns are escalating their attacks over affordability and the governor's record.

Hochul cast her ballot on Saturday and is rallying supporters in Buffalo, where she launched her political career.

Early voting poll sites opened Saturday morning across New York state.

Some voters in Albany County spoke about what voting early means to them.

With both candidates in the race for governor continuing to campaign hard on affordability, the conversation has inevitably turned time and time again to taxes.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is fresh off a legislative session in which she largely resisted pressure from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other progressives to increase taxes on the wealthy; Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman says taxes and spending are still too high.

New York’s top two Democrats made good on a promise to campaign together before Election Day and just ahead of early voting.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul rode the G train to the border of Greenpoint and Williamsburg Friday.

Domestic violence programs say delayed payouts from the state of New York are forcing them to scale back services.

“There are two things that are going on right now,” said Christine Battisti, the executive director of the Crime Victims Assistance Center in Broome County.

Local lawmakers are pushing to pass legislation that would eliminate the statute of limitations when prosecuting someone accused of a deadly hit-and-run.

Pete's Law would allow prosecutors to file charges any time new evidence identifies a suspect.

For decades, New York City officials have debated whether to end Central Park’s horse-drawn carriage industry.

Now, after the City Council’s approval of a ban, the effort is nearing its conclusion after years of failed proposals and political pushback.

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — The race for the 23rd Congressional District could help shape the power in Washington as Republican incumbent Nick Langworthy seeks his third term in office in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"After two terms, I'm really just hitting my stride in Congress. My work is just beginning. I've been effective, I've delivered for the district and I want to keep that work and progress going," said Langworthy.

U.S. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries listened from the front row at the old Ohio church as the Sunday congregation heard of scripture’s guidance for calming a gathering storm.

“Wind, hush!” the speaker advised, describing the power to bring about change.

There’s a new PAC in town.

The political action committee called Aleinu-NY PAC is dedicated to supporting candidates who have liberal social views and support Israel’s right to exist.

As candidates finish the final leg of their campaigns heading into Election Day, there’s a surge of big donors pouring millions into both state and national races.

But what about small campaign donations and their impact on helping candidates get across the finish line?

BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York is collecting billions more in tax revenue than expected, but a warning from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget director is raising questions about how long that financial boost could last and whether the state is prepared for a potential Wall Street downturn.

In an Oct. 14 letter to state agencies, Budget Director Blake Washington warned that the state’s tax collections have benefited from a strong stock market, driven in part by investments in artificial intelligence.

The Port of Oswego sits at the southeastern point of Lake Ontario, at the crossroads of the North American shipping market with Canada. It’s the first U.S. port of call and deepwater port on the Great Lakes from the St. Lawrence Seaway, and it’s accessible from any international port in the world. In other words, the Port has a front-row seat to the U.S. trade war with Canada.

But according to Tom Drumm, the Port’s executive director and CEO, the tariff tit-for-tat with our northern neighbor is creating a “full-blown crisis across the entire Great Lakes Economy.”

It’s the semi-silent partner of some political campaigns.

This election season, political experts say some candidates aren’t just using artificial intelligence for AI-generated ads against their opponents; they’re also using it for other means.

A new Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday gives Gov. Kathy Hochul a 14-point lead over her Republican challenger, Bruce Blakeman.

Likely voters favor Hochul over Blakeman by a 55% to 41% margin.

Republican Marc Molinaro and Democrat Janet Tweed are vying to represent New York’s 102nd Assembly District. They are seeking to replace Republican Chris Tague, who is running for state Senate.

Molinaro previously represented the 103rd Assembly District and the 19th Congressional District and served three terms as Dutchess County executive. He most recently served as administrator of the Federal Transit Administration before stepping down to return to state politics.

Albany County voters will decide in November whether to replace the county’s elected coroners with a medical examiner’s office.

Under the proposal, an appointed medical examiner and about three death investigators would take over investigations of unattended and questionable deaths.

Under pressure from elected party leaders, Saratoga County Republican Chairman Joseph Suhrada said Wednesday that he will resign tomorrow after a conversation came to light in which he made an offensive racial slur describing Black people and a disparaging term for homosexuals.

While Suhrada said he will resign, he did not take responsibility for what he reportedly said in a recording made by Allen Caruso, a Republican running for the state Assembly District 113.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — With Election Day approaching, voters in New York’s 142nd Assembly District face a choice between incumbent Pat Burke and challenger Gary Dickson.

Affordability is a central issue in this race. Burke said rising utility bills are putting pressure on families, while Dickson argued state policies are driving up costs.

Niagara County lawmakers voted Tuesday to authorize potential legal action against New York state over a law county officials argue is interfering with a federal investigation into possible noncitizen voting.

The resolution passed 9-4, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats opposed. Two legislators were absent.

Voters will have a chance to decide who represents New York’s 22nd Congressional District: a Republican candidate who was endorsed by President Donald Trump or the Democratic incumbent who’s seeking a second term.

Democrat Rep. John Mannion and Republican Kailee Buller are running in the district, which includes Syracuse, Utica and Auburn.

November’s ballot will have more than just political races on it.

The ballot will include five key questions for city voters aimed at making city government more efficient.

With two weeks to go before Election Day, the candidates for governor were swinging away at each other on the campaign trail.

Republican Bruce Blakeman continued to slam Gov. Kathy Hochul for high energy prices.

The high price of everything is on the ballot this November, including the high cost of filling up your car and paying your energy bill.

It was one reason U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler spent Monday campaigning at the Cricket Valley Energy Center in Dutchess County. The Republican, who’s in a tight race for NY-17 with Democratic challenger Cait Conley, was highlighting the need for more energy in New York state.

The race to replace Congresswoman Elise Stefanik in New York’s 21st Congressional District is drawing increased attention as two candidates with different backgrounds and political approaches vie to represent the sprawling North Country district.

Businessman and Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino, endorsed by Stefanik and President Donald Trump, is facing dairy farmer Blake Gendebien, a Democrat who has sought to distance himself from other members of his party.

With Election Day just two weeks away, affordability remains a central issue in New York’s race for governor, as Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul touts efforts to lower costs for New Yorkers and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman proposes alternatives.

The two candidates focused on different aspects of affordability Tuesday, with Hochul highlighting efforts to combat auto insurance fraud and Blakeman continuing his push to lower utility bills by expanding natural gas production in New York.

Anthony Constantino is a successful upstate businessman who came to the attention of President Donald Trump after erecting a 100-foot sign on the roof of his factory in Amsterdam, NY that read “Vote for Trump.” Now he’s in a battle for the hearts, minds and votes of the people of the sprawling 21st Congressional District.

The district is currently represented by powerhouse politician Elise Stefanik, who is stepping down from the position at the end of the year.

Voters in the Capital Region’s 20th Congressional District are choosing between a longtime Democratic incumbent and a Republican who has never held elected office.

Democratic Rep. Paul Tonko is facing Republican challenger Ralph Ambrosio in the Nov. 3 election.

A New York state judge has refused to order a stop to construction on the Seneca Nation's $10 million Ohio Street development in the city of Buffalo.

The proposed 28-bay truck stop and fuel depot is located at 5 Miami Street.

With early voting kicking off in five days, New Yorkers are focusing on the candidates on their ballot.

Adrienne Adams is running for lieutenant governor as Kathy Hochul’s running mate.

New York Rep. Joe Morelle is leading the Democrats’ national voter protection effort. It includes public education, national threat assessment, and congressional oversight ahead of midterms.

On Monday, he didn’t mince words in a press call with nonpartisan nonprofit Try and Stop Us and other federal and state leaders, saying that he believes Republicans are afraid of losing on Election Day.

Could Senate Republicans prevent Senate Democrats from achieving a veto-proof majority in the upper chamber this election?

State Sen. George Borrello tells Capital Tonight that he’s optimistic, despite President Trump’s sagging poll numbers.

The candidates for governor, Republican Bruce Blakeman and incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul, faced off in their only debate of the election cycle right here on Spectrum News 1 on Tuesday. The debate, co-moderated by our own Susan Arbetter and Errol Lewis, featured some heated moments and a lot of policy.

Bryan Lesswing, a Democratic strategist who served as an advisor to Hochul, as well as worked on Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin's campaign, who currently serves as senior vice president and head of Albany at SKDK, and Bill O'Reilly, a former advisor to New York City politicians including former State Senator Roy Goodman and currently working on Republican Saritha Komtireddy's campaign for attorney general, joined Capital Tonight to give their insight of the debate.

Despite the Trump administration saying it has no plans to deploy immigration enforcement officers at the polls, advocates in New York remain cautious.

“It is something we should be concerned about and prepared for,” said Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition. “If we stay ready, we don’t have to get ready.”

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz unveiled a $2.4 billion proposed budget Thursday for 2027 as federal funding changes force counties across New York to absorb millions of dollars in additional expenses.

The proposed spending plan totals $2.408 billion, a 5.5% increase over the county’s 2026 budget. While the county’s property tax rate would decrease from $3.09 to $3.01 per $1,000 of assessed value, the overall property tax levy would increase by 3.6%, or $12.7 million.

Democrat Cait Conley and Republican Mike Lawler made their case to voters to represent the Hudson Valley in Congress during their second and final debate for New York’s 17th Congressional District.

The district covers all or part of Peekskill, Mahopac and Ossining and has been represented by Lawler since 2023.

The exponential growth of AI has sparked a debate over its role in our economy as well as in our kids’ classrooms.

Robert Schneider, executive director of the NYS School Boards Association, recently wrote in the Albany Times Union that while the state should create “belts and suspenders” around AI, it’s the local school districts that should choose how to use the new technology and which AI technology to purchase.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is hitting the campaign trail for Gov. Kathy Hochul.

“That’s why I’m voting for Governor Kathy Hochul because she’s the real deal for New Yorkers. And Bruce Blakeman? Well, he’s a bad apple,” Mamdani said in a new ad for the governor.

Many of us have seen videos on social media poking fun at absurd scenarios and questioning whether its AI or real, but when it comes to political campaign ads how easily can you tell especially if they’re not marked?

Political science professor Grant Reeher says while some material is easy to recognize others aren’t, and the effort to regulate these ads will run behind the advances.

Spending the morning with the pom-pom waving kids of P.S. 398 in Queens, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $10 million in state aid to build a new children's community center in Jackson Heights.

"Someone said, 'Well, they need $10 million to put shovels in the ground.' I said, 'What are we waiting for? I want shovels in the ground,' " Hochul said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman clashed over immigration enforcement, crime, utility costs and other issues facing New Yorkers during their only debate of the gubernatorial campaign Tuesday on Spectrum News.

The Democratic governor and Nassau County executive repeatedly traded accusations over their records and policies, with Hochul frequently criticizing President Donald Trump’s influence on New York and Blakeman seeking to hold the governor responsible for the state’s challenges.

Two candidates vying for the position of governor faced off in a 60-minute debate Tuesday on Spectrum News.

Incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman debated in the Spectrum News NY1 newsroom.

New York City has launched a temporary relief program to help New Yorkers eliminate outstanding debt on some city fines, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Tuesday.

Between now and Jan. 10, 2027, New Yorkers with outstanding Environmental Control Board, or ECB, judgments will have a chance to resolve their debt at a discount, with waived interest, the mayor’s office said in a release.

After months of attacks on the campaign trail, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman are set to face off Tuesday, Oct. 13, in their first and only scheduled debate in the race for New York governor.

The debate comes as two new polls show Hochul leading Blakeman. A Marist University poll puts her ahead by 11 percentage points, while an Emerson College poll gives her a 12-point lead.

With Election Day less than a month away, two of the nation’s most polarizing political figures are playing increasingly prominent roles in New York’s race for governor.

President Donald Trump appeared alongside Republican nominee Bruce Blakeman in Syracuse on Friday, marking one of the most notable moments of the campaign so far and raising questions about whether an association with the unpopular president could ultimately help or hurt Blakeman in New York.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is officially opting the state of New York in on the federal education tax credit, also known as the "federal scholarship tax credit.”

The Internal Revenue Service issued proposed regulations in how the credit will be run.

President Donald Trump joined Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman in Syracuse on Friday for a campaign stop ahead of November's election.

Large crowds piled into the OnCenter for the event, with crowds also outside protesting.

Amid the Cornell University rape investigation, there’s a new push to update New York’s “Enough is Enough” law.

The state passed it in 2015 to keep track of incidents of stalking, dating and sexual violence, and domestic violence on college and university campuses throughout New York state.

President Donald Trump made a stop in Syracuse to rally in support of gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman.

Critics, however, held an event of their own.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York counties are facing an estimated $170 million in additional annual costs to administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after a new federal law reduced Washington’s share of the funding.

The change, part of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, took effect Oct. 1, reducing the federal government’s contribution toward SNAP administrative costs from 50% to 25%.

The two candidates for state attorney general, Democratic incumbent Letitia James and Republican challenger Saritha Komatireddy, sparred during an hourlong debate on Spectrum News 1 on Thursday.

Two candidates vying for the position of state attorney general faced off in a 60-minute debate Thursday on Spectrum News.

Incumbent state Attorney General Letitia James and Republican challenger Saritha Komatireddy debated in the Spectrum News NY1 newsroom.

Republican candidate for state attorney general Saritha Komatireddy came to Thursday night’s NY1 debate prepared to take down the incumbent, Democrat Letitia James.

“New Yorkers, you do not have an attorney general right now,” she said. “For the last eight years, you’ve had a political hack sitting in the chair using our taxpayer money for her political purposes.”

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A legal battle is unfolding between the city of Buffalo and the Seneca Nation over a proposed $10 million development, raising broader questions about tribal sovereignty and the authority of state and local governments in New York.

The city filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Erie County Supreme Court seeking to halt construction at 5 Miami Street, where the Seneca Nation plans to build a Seneca One Stop fuel station and convenience store, a Nativa Cannabis dispensary and space for a potential food service tenant.

One of the defendants in the case involving gang rape allegations at Cornell University has filed a petition to block Gov. Kathy Hochul's appointment of state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the case.

According to the complaint, the defendant says the appointment is improper because the AG has "unequivocally demonstrated a bias and presumption of guilt against the defendants named in the civil case."

In part two of NY1’s “Out of Office with the Mayor,” political anchor Errol Louis joined Mayor Zohran Mamdani on the Staten Island Ferry, where he spoke about his priorities for the borough, his conversations with President Donald Trump, the closure of Rikers Island, City Hall’s warning for Columbia University over a closed walkway and his upcoming birthday plans.

Tap the video player above to watch the interview.

Big news in the race for New York’s 21st Congressional District, better known as the geographically vast congressional seat currently occupied by Rep. Elise Stefanik.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) on Monday moved the North Country race onto its list of most competitive races in the country, a decision that comes with money, messaging, and manpower.

With fewer than four weeks until Election Day, House Democrats say the stakes are far greater than political power.

“We’re at a real turning point and inflection point in this country, but it’s up to us, each of us, to secure American democracy,” Rochester Rep. Joe Morelle said.

On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration “announced a request for information describing approaches the agency is considering for the design of early-phase clinical trials of ibogaine drug products.” It’s now seeking public input on those approaches.

The announcement is in the wake of President Donald Trump’s April 2026 executive order accelerating medical treatments for serious mental illness.

State Attorney General Letitia James hasn’t been on a debate stage in eight years, having opted not to debate Republican opponent Michael Henry in 2022.

But when she squares off against Saritha Komatireddy on Thursday night, she’ll have more than two decades of experience in politics to draw from.

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — A dispute over the future of the Seneca Nation’s gaming compact with New York is becoming part of the race for governor after Seneca Nation President J.C. Seneca hosted Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman for a campaign fundraiser Monday.

The fundraiser at the Seneca casino in Niagara Falls came just days after Seneca publicly criticized Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul over compact negotiations and announced what he described as an agreement in principle that would include no revenue sharing with New York state.

While they're both Democratic stars in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez disagree on many policy proposals, like taxing the rich, but they found middle ground Tuesday opposing data center construction.

Just a month from Election Day, Hochul seems to be trying to boost her numbers with left-leaning voters, while Ocasio-Cortez is increasing her political presence upstate.

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says Wall Street is heading for a record year, providing a boost to state tax revenue as New York begins looking toward its next budget.

A new report from DiNapoli’s office shows Wall Street profits totaled $45.9 billion through the first half of the year, the highest two-quarter result on record. If the current pace of growth continues, annual profits could exceed a record $90 billion in 2026.