Politics is full of hypocrisy, and this latest move by New York Democrats is just another chapter in the same old book.

With Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) expected to step down from Congress to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, her solidly Republican district in upstate New York will soon be without representation in the House. Under existing state law, Governor Kathy Hochul is required to call a special election within 10 days of a House vacancy, with voters casting their ballots within 70 to 80 days after that. This process ensures that the people of the district aren’t left without a voice in Washington for long.

But now, at the urging of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York lawmakers are considering changing the law—dragging out the timeline and potentially delaying the election for months, even until November.

Why? Well, the official explanation is that holding a separate special election would cost too much money, and consolidating it with other elections would supposedly be more efficient.

It’s an argument that sounds reasonable on the surface—but let’s not kid ourselves.

This isn’t about saving money. It’s about shaving another Republican vote off the already razor-thin GOP House majority for as long as possible.

The “Saving Money” Excuse: Convenient, but Not Convincing

Let’s be fair: elections are expensive. Running a special election means printing ballots, staffing polling places, and managing logistics. If there’s a way to cut unnecessary costs, taxpayers should appreciate that.

But let’s also be real—when have Democrats in New York ever been concerned about saving money?

Paul Dreyer of the New York Post hit the nail on the head when he pointed out that Governor Kathy Hochul is simultaneously pushing to expand the state budget by another $12 billion. That’s billion, with a B. It’s hard to take Democrats seriously when they claim to be fiscal hawks only when it suits their political interests.

If New York’s ruling party was truly worried about cost-cutting, they wouldn’t be throwing billions at bloated government programs. But when it comes to ensuring that a Republican district goes unrepresented for months? Suddenly, they’re budget-conscious.

Give me a break.

Would Democrats Delay a Democrat Seat? Not a Chance.

Let’s imagine for a second that the situation was reversed. Suppose a Democrat in a safe blue district resigned, and Republicans held a narrow House majority. Would state Democrats still be pushing to delay the special election? Would they be saying, “Well, let’s hold off for a few months to save money”?

Not a chance.

They’d be calling for an immediate election, citing the urgent need for voters to be represented in Congress. You’d hear rhetoric about how every voice deserves to be heard and how delaying the election would be an affront to democracy.

And you know what? They’d be right.

The people of New York’s 21st Congressional District deserve representation just as much as any Democrat district does. But since this is a Republican stronghold, that same principle is suddenly out the window.

The Hypocrisy Problem: Both Sides Do It

Now, before anyone thinks this is just a partisan rant against Democrats, let’s acknowledge something important: Republicans have played this game, too.

One of the most glaring examples was Mitch McConnell’s handling of Supreme Court nominations.

• In 2016, when President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, McConnell and Senate Republicans blocked the nomination, arguing that it was too close to an election.
• But in 2020, when President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett just weeks before Election Day, suddenly the “let the voters decide” argument disappeared.

The rules only applied when it was politically convenient.

And let’s not forget how both parties manipulate congressional district maps to their advantage.

• Republicans in Texas and North Carolina draw districts to maximize their power and minimize Democratic influence.
• Democrats in Illinois and Maryland do the exact same thing, just in reverse.

Both sides love to complain when the other does it, but neither is willing to stop playing the game.

Why This Matters: The People Lose While Politicians Play Games

At the end of the day, the real losers here aren’t Republicans or Democrats—it’s the voters.

The people of New York’s 21st District deserve to have their representative in Congress as soon as possible. That seat belongs to the voters, not to politicians who want to manipulate the rules for short-term gain.

Delaying the election doesn’t serve the public good. It serves partisan interests.

New York Democrats should either apply the same election rules consistently—whether it benefits them or not—or admit that this is just another naked power grab.

But let’s be honest: neither party has a great track record when it comes to playing fair.

Sadly, expecting politicians to act with integrity is about as likely as a cat volunteering for a bath.