Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is enduring criticism inside his caucus for a string of election losses under his leadership, is unlikely to gain a majority in the chamber this year. But that isn’t stopping the Brooklynite from advancing statehood legislation that would welcome Puerto Rico and Upstate New York as the 51st and 52nd States of the Union.
Schumer is not expected to pursue statehood for the District of Columbia in the bill, which is a far less popular and more politically polarizing proposition — seen as a crass political power grab that offensively privileges the already well represented citizens of the District who amply benefit from the federal government’s economic largess.
On the other hand, there is strong bipartisan support nationally for Puerto Rican statehood and the Republican Party believes that it can compete for votes on the island — particularly among men — despite the longtime reputation of the community being aligned closely with the Democratic Party, at least with regard to Puerto Rican politics in New York.
Schumer has not been previously known to support statehood for Upstate New York, which has always endured problematic governance issues that stem from its geographic alienation from the vast majority of the population located inside and around New York City.
The area of New York north of Westchester and Rockland Counties, if it were a State, would include ten congressional districts and about six million people, twelve electoral votes, and a midwestern constituency far more archetypal of Michigan, Wisconsin, or Ohio than of New England. It would be a narrowly divided swing state — perhaps even more comfortable for moderate Democrats like Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, and Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand.
Pairing statehood votes for Upstate New York and Puerto Rico might be the masterful political stroke that Schumer’s flailing leadership tenure needs.
It could also be an opportunity to placate an angry leftwing of the party inside New York City that seems to feel perpetually wronged by the federal government without rational basis for those unrelenting political assertions.
If Senator Gillibrand were essentially ‘redistricted’ to represent Upstate New York, political observers postulate that Schumer would be able to take Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or another progressive voice under his proverbial wing in the Senate.
Schumer’s statehood legislation is being heralded by the Puerto Rican community, which now sees two inspired roadways to the White House — one that runs through the island and the other that runs through the Bronx.
This nonsense. How would New York City
survive if “upstate” isn’t carrying them ?
You have it backwards
Makes precioius little sense for Chucky to push statehood for upstate NY. First, it would have to pass muster in Progressive-dominated Albany (most unlikely) and Congress. Upstate would send Republicans to Congress, not Progressives. So, not in Chucky’s interest. His weasely angle is to unconstitutionally snag DC, although that too would require both chambers of Congress to approve, not entirely likely especially if Senate somehow remains in Republican hands. A pre-packed SCOTUS would surely nix legislating DC into statehood without a constitutional amendment. IF they wait until they pack the court with Abrams types, then it’s a go, for sure, the Constitution be damned.
The he’ll with making Upstate New York anything other than what it is. Make NYC part of that b’s he’s trying to sell due to the fact NYS was formed in advance of NYC being added after the fact!!
Statehood for DC is “a crass political power grab that offensively privileges the already well represented citizens of the District who amply benefit from the federal government’s economic largess?” Hmm… Out of DC or upstate New York, which place’s citizens have to pay federal taxes but are not represented in Congress, and whose ballot initiatives and local elected officials
decisions can be overridden by Congress? Oh, right. Not Upstate New York. There go those greedy, majority Black, DC folks trying to unfairly grab privileges that people in Buffalo take for granted.
Hell No! I’m on Long Island and we don’t want to be part of NYC either. :-p
Same here. Long Islanders do not want to be stuck with NYC.
Nassau and Suffolk Counties are Republican Counties. Who knew?
You should support the three region plan http://www.divideny.org
Two more states would mean America is finally playing with a full deck.
No it doesn’t, it means the left would have the upper hand. NYC should be separated from the state. Long Island and Upstate should be together if there’s going to be another state. We all need to get out from under the thumb of NYC and Cuomo.
New Amsterdam and the Autonomous Regions cause must be working http://www.divideny.org
that isn’t stopping the Brooklynite from advancing statehood legislation that would welcome Puerto Rico and Upstate New York as the 51st and 52nd States of the Union. I thought upstate New York was already part of the United States? So apparently upstate and NYC are already separated! Lol
I stopped reading when you described Andrew Cuomo, Kathy Hochul and Kirsten Gillebrand as “moderate Democrats.” Do you LIVE in New York State? I’m guessing not or you wouldn’t be so utterly clueless about what Cuomo and Hildebrand, particularly, are actually like. They’re tyrannical globalists who get off on control. “Moderate” they are not.
Northern California and rural Oregon have already voted in favor of becoming a new state in several counties. We are a much more reliable red vote than NY