Today Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie released New York State’s budget for fiscal year 2026. It includes $114.5 million for the state’s public financing program. The budget also contains a change to the program that will allow the first $250 of donations up to $1,050 from constituents to be matched with public funds. Previously, matching funds were reserved for donations from candidates’ constituents of $250 or less. Additionally, the budget includes funding to improve the state’s voting systems.
Marina Pino, counsel in the Elections and Government Program, had the following comment:
“We commend Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Heastie for fully funding the state’s small donor public financing program after its successful start. Already it is meeting its goal of bringing more voices into New York politics to offset the power of the wealthiest few. The number of New Yorkers making small-dollar in-district donations roughly doubled after just one election cycle. That’s why lawmakers enacted this program, and it’s already working.
“New York’s political leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to the program’s future by including a long overdue technical fix. The public financing law that created the program now contains a “severability” clause — a standard legal safety net provision that can ensure the system’s viability going forward.”
“Unfortunately, the budget also contains an eleventh-hour change to the program that was negotiated behind closed doors, without any input from constituents, allowing matching funds for the first $250 of donations up to $1,050 in statewide and legislative races. While this change does not undercut the program’s core objectives, this type of secretive legislative maneuvering to modify a program specifically designed to bring more voices into the political process is disappointing. Any future changes to the program should be adopted through an open and transparent process. We look forward to working with lawmakers to make sure the program continues to work for all New Yorkers.”
Patrick Berry, counsel in the Brennan Center’s Voting Rights Program, had the following comment:
“We are pleased that the budget includes funding to improve the state’s voting systems. The state will be able to implement key voting reforms and provide critical resources for local boards of elections. These investments in New York’s democracy will help voters across the state.”
Brennan Center resources
- “New York State’s Public Campaign Financing Program Empowers Constituent Small Donors” (Marina Pino, Celina Avalos Jaramillo, Grady Yuthok Short, and Ian Vandewalker, Brennan Center, February 6, 2025)
- “New York’s Answer to Billionaire-Fueled Campaigns” (Celina Avalos Jaramillo and Ian Vandewalker, Brennan Center, February 14, 2025)
