Legislators want overhaul of lieutenant governor election provisions

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Lawmakers introduced a slate of bills to change New York’s primary process for selecting a governor and lieutenant governor. They require candidates to run together on a joint ticket in party primaries ahead of the 2026 election.

Currently, gubernatorial and lieutenant governor candidates run in separate primaries. Voters choose a governor from one list and a lieutenant governor from another. But in the general election, the winners run on a joint ticket.

Democratic Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara and Republican State Senator Joseph Griffo unveiled S1581 to make the change. The new bill, which did not appear to have an Assembly bill number as of Wednesday, would have state committees create a single, unified ticket.

Santabarbara said, "New Yorkers deserve leadership teams that can govern with unity and purpose from day one." He added that the reform would build partnerships on shared vision rather than political convenience.

Griffo promised more orderly leadership transitions, saying reforms would modernize state laws. He said, “With Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado's decision not to run for reelection on the governor's ticket in 2026, Albany has a great opportunity to reform state government for the better by updating antiquated and archaic state laws concerning the lieutenant governor’s office.”

Griffo proposed other related bills—S1585/A3377 and S1590/A4946—to modify other procedures around the lieutenant governor, these alongside Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon. The first would amend the state constitution so the lieutenant governor acts as governor only when the governor is absent or unable to serve. Currently, the state constitution dictates that the lieutenant governor acts as governor whenever they are out of state.

Meanwhile, S1590 would establish a process to fill a vacancy in the lieutenant governor’s office after 30 days. The governor would present a nominee to the Senate and Assembly to confirm in a process similar to filling a vice presidential vacancy in the U.S. Constitution.

Buttenschon noted that previous vacancies in the office have driven the need for clear procedures, adding, "I sponsor this legislation in the Assembly, as it now appears we may once again be faced with the same need."

And in a related push for accountability in March, Republican Assemblymember Chris Tague and Republican State Senator Jim tedisco introduced S6591/A5263. The measure would give New Yorkers constitutional recall power over the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and comptroller. Announcing the bill, he added criticism for Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James for protecting the entrenched political class.

"This bill is about one thing: restoring power to the people," Tague said. "Voters should have the right to recall corrupt or ineffective politicians, just like they do in other states."

According to the Alliance for Quality Education—a public education advocacy organization—such behind-the-scenes political gamesmanship around election procedures hurts New Yorkers, not helps. They said the governor should finalize a budget with increased funding for child care rather than being worried about her nascent reelection campaign.

“Despite promising to lead differently, this governor is now employing the same last-minute political tactics that defined a previous administration—leveraging her power over the budget process, not to serve families or communities, but for her own political gain," read a joint statement from co-executive directors Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari.

Related video: Delgado won’t rule out running for Governor: