Saturday is the primary day of early voting in New York and Empire State voters might assist determine which occasion will management the U.S. Home of Representatives over the following two years.
Republicans are in search of to fend off makes an attempt by Democrats to flip congressional seats within the suburbs north of New York Metropolis and within the Adirondack Mountains close to the Canadian border.
New Yorkers may even determine whether or not Democrats Kathy Hochul and Letitia James ought to every be elected to a further time period of their respective roles as governor and legal professional common.
Democratic incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman face off in the one scheduled debate forward of the November New York gubernatorial election, on the Spectrum Information NY1 studios, in New York, US, Ocotober 13, 2026.
Anna Connors For The New York Occasions/through Reuters
Statewide races
Hochul grew to become the state’s first feminine governor in 2021 after then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned amid sexual harassment allegations — accusations he denied. She was New York’s lieutenant governor on the time.
Not like most New York governors, Hochul is just not from New York Metropolis or its suburbs, however hails from the Buffalo space — a greater than six-hour drive away. A reasonable Democrat, she was largely unknown to voters within the metropolitan space, the place a lot of the state’s inhabitants resides, till Cuomo’s resignation. She defeated Republican Lee Zeldin in 2022, profitable a full time period in Albany.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (heart) and her working mate, former New York Metropolis Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (left), converse at a marketing campaign occasion in Jamaica, New York.
Jared Kofsky/ABC Information
Within the time since, Hochul has spent a major period of time downstate, lately collaborating with present democratic socialist New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani on initiatives like expanded childcare entry. Mamdani campaigned with Hochul on Friday and has launched movies on social media in help of her marketing campaign.
Hochul’s Republican opponent in 2026, Nassau County Govt Bruce Blakeman, has labored to tie Hochul to Mamdani all through his marketing campaign, issuing an announcement at one level that referenced the “Hochul-Mamdani agenda.”
Republican candidate for New York governor Bruce Blakeman attends a press convention as he campaigns in New York Metropolis, US, October 21, 2026.
David Dee Delgado/Reuters
Blakeman has centered his gubernatorial marketing campaign on combating crime and reducing taxes in New York State. He has acquired President Donald Trump’s endorsement and been adamant in his help of the president, even campaigning with him at a rally in Syracuse in early October.
A current Quinnipiac College ballot of seemingly New York State voters discovered that 55% would help Hochul and 41% would Blakeman.
New York Lawyer Basic Letitia James (left) stands with New York Governor Kathy Hochul at a information convention in Manhattan on October 02, 2026 in New York Metropolis.
Spencer Platt/Getty Photos
Within the legal professional common’s race, incumbent Letitia James is dealing with a problem from Republican former Drug Enforcement Administration Chief of Workers Saritha Komatireddy. James gained nationwide consideration by her 2022 lawsuit towards Trump, his firm and members of his household alleging web value inflation. The lawsuit led to a $454 million civil fraud judgment that was thrown out by an appeals courtroom in 2025.
Whereas Komatireddy has not traditionally been a family identify within the state, a lot of her marketing campaign supplies utilizing the “simply combat crime” branding have gained vital consideration on social media.
Republican legal professional common candidate Saritha Komatireddy speaks throughout a press convention on October 06, 2026 in Chappaqua, New York.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photos
Suburban showdown
One of the vital high-profile races within the nation is in New York’s seventeenth Congressional District within the decrease Hudson Valley, the place incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler is being challenged by Democrat Cait Conley.
Rep. Mike Lawler speaks at a press convention in entrance of the JP Morgan Chase information heart on October 14, 2026 in Orangeburg, New York.
Kena Betancur/Getty Photos
The district is residence to everybody from former President Invoice Clinton to New York Metropolis funding bankers to 1000’s of cops.
Trump attended a rally with Lawler within the district in Might whereas former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg got here to the district in September to marketing campaign with Conley.
Cait Conley, who’s difficult U.S. Consultant Mike Lawler to signify New York’s seventeenth Congressional District, speaks to supporters on September 16, 2026 in Tarrytown, New York.
Spencer Platt/Getty Photos
The race within the seventeenth Congressional District is just not the one probably aggressive race inside a stone’s throw of Manhattan. Within the third Congressional District, which straddles Nassau and Queens, incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi is being challenged by Republican Michael LiPetri, a former state assemblyman who has run for Congress twice earlier than.
Democrats search an upstate upset
In New York’s twenty first Congressional District, which stretches from the traditionally industrial Mohawk Valley alongside the Erie Canal to the Canadian border, Democrats are hoping that 2026 is their greatest probability to flip the seat at the moment held by Republican U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik.
Stefanik beforehand deliberate to hunt the Republican gubernatorial nomination, however ended up dropping out of the governor’s race and saying she wouldn’t search reelection to the Home.
Republican Anthony Constantino, a sticker firm CEO endorsed by Trump, is dealing with off towards Democratic farmer Blake Gendebien within the district. Trump endorsed Constantino within the Republican major over a state lawmaker who had been endorsed by the pinnacle of New York State’s Republican Get together.
Tariffs and American relations with Canada have been top of mind in components of the district.
Early voting concludes on Nov. 1. Election Day is Nov. 3.
