NEW YORK (WKBW) — In a Rochester courtroom Monday oral arguments were heard after the New York State Republican Party filed a lawsuit against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Board of Elections for their failure to call for a special election for the NY-27 district, allowing the people of that district to remain unrepresented.
The NY-27 seat was left vacant after Congressman Chris Collins resigned his seat representing the 27th Congressional District in September, in October he pleaded guilty to insider trading charges.
In a statement the NY GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy said:
“Governor Cuomo’s partisan manipulation of the NY-27 special election is a slap in the face to Western New Yorkers who won’t forget he put his own interests above their right to representation in Congress. At a time when our federal government is facing gravely important decisions concerning our national security, our economy and Democrats’ attempt to remove our duly-elected President from office, the people of NY-27 are being denied a voice because Andrew Cuomo is trying to rig an election. The actions of this Governor and Nancy Pelosi’s Democrat Party already sealed their fate in this election and we will retain this seat, regardless of what date it’s held.”
In a statement the governor's office said:
"We're glad that the court saw Langworthy's suit as the petty, politically-motivated waste of time and money that it was. The fact that the plaintiffs tried to weaponize the court, in order to saddle taxpayers with at least $1 million in extra costs, shows once and for all that they have zero claim to being the party of fiscal responsibility. Hopefully, they will now put this charade behind them, and the Governor will be calling a special election in the very near future."
According to the New York State Attorney General's Office, in court it was argued that Governor Cuomo has the discretion to set the date of the election.
Cuomo has indicated he would like to set the date for the special election for April 28th which would line up with the Presidential Primary.
In order to make it official, Governor Cuomo needs to issue a proclamation 70 to 80 days in advance of the special election.
