Members of the new 119th Congress descended on the nation’s Capitol Friday with Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress and the second term of Donald Trump on the horizon.

While the GOP has the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, it is one of the smallest in congressional history. So what can New Yorkers expect from the new Congress?

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced Thursday she will be joining the Senate Committee on Appropriations in the next Congress, which is set to convene on Friday.

The panel in Washington’s upper chamber oversees federal spending and allocates funding to programs and government agencies.

From the lake-effect machines that batter Buffalo's Southtowns, the Finger Lakes region, the Southern Tier and the remnants that crash the Capital Region down to the Hudson Valley, we know Mother Nature is nothing to discount.

Rep. Tim Kennedy (NY-26) and others in offices across New York state do too, and come the next legislative session, there could be some meaningful change for preparation and recovery.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- There is good news and bad news for New York with regards to new population estimates.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the state gained about 130,000 people between 2023 and 2024.

Plates, forks and knives are everyday essentials for all of us, however, most of these items are made abroad. Now, state leaders are pushing for the items to be American made with the FORKS Made in America Act.

It would require the Department of Defense to buy stainless steel flatware and dinnerware from manufacturers in the United States, potentially good news for Sherrill Manufacturing in upstate New York.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Kids Online Safety Act is not on the agenda before Congress wraps up the year.

Fairplay Executive Director Josh Golin said the leading nonprofit advocating for the legislation is not pleased with the decision.

Republican U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro thanked his constituents and colleagues in his farewell remarks to Congress Wednesday as he exits his role as representative for New York's 19th Congressional District, while also promising to have a future in public service.

“To the people of NY-19: thank you. Thank you for your trust, your support, and your unwavering belief in me. Representing you was never just a job; it was a deeply personal mission,” Molinaro said on the House floor. “Your faith in me inspired every decision I made, every vote I cast and every moment I spent advocating for our shared future. Together, we focused on what truly matters: delivering results for the people and places that make our district extraordinary.”

New York U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has lost her bid to be the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee in the next Congress following a caucus vote that picked Virginia Rep. Jerry Connolly as ranking member instead.

Currently second in line to the ranking member, Ocasio-Cortez made a play for the position since Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the current ranking member, is seeking to be the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee after New York Rep. Jerry Nadler said earlier this month he would not seek another term in that spot.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — EBT card skimming has become an issue for families relying on food assistance programs like SNAP. Tens of thousands of users have fallen victim to this crime, with their benefits wiped out without warning. To address this, Congress authorized a temporary provision in late 2022, allowing the replacement of up to two months’ worth of stolen SNAP benefits.

In New York alone, more than 64,000 households have had their stolen benefits restored, providing much-needed relief to families in crisis.

After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify and ultimately stop the airborne pests.

The New York Democrat is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy special technology that identifies and tracks drones back to their landing spots, according to briefings from his office.

One of Donald Trump’s top achievements during his first term as president was confirming federal judges - reshaping the courts with conservative jurists for decades to come.

Now, with just weeks to go before they lose power in Washington following the outcome of the November election, outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his Democratic colleagues are rushing to finalize a judicial counterbalance.

A St. Lawrence County farmer is seeking the Democratic nomination to succeed U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik in New York's 21st Congressional District.

Blake Gendebien is a North Country native and owner of Twin Mill Farms in Lisbon and vice chair of the Cooperative Board of Agri-Mark.

Damar Hamlin's impact continues to stretch far beyond the gridiron.

Hamlin's cardiac arrest scare during a Monday night game in January 2023 has led to new legislation aimed at improving access to resources for heart health nationwide.

Micron and the federal government have sealed the deal on the funding agreement on their future plant outside Syracuse.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's office confirmed Tuesday that the up-to-$6.1 billion in CHIPS & Science Law funding for Micron to build a new facility upstate is finalized and secured. This locks in the funding for the massive new chip fabrication facility being built in Clay.

New York U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says she will seek the top Democratic spot on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee in the next Congress, according to a letter she sent to colleagues on Friday.

Currently second in line to the ranking member, Ocasio-Cortez is bidding for the position since Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the current ranking member, is seeking to be the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee after New York Rep. Jerry Nadler said earlier this week he would not seek another term in that spot.

Several New York and Pennsylvania House Republicans, led by Rep. Nick Langworthy, called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to end opposition to a proposed natural gas pipeline that would’ve run through parts of the Southern Tier and Western New York, according to a letter they sent Thursday.

Known as the Northern Access Pipeline, National Fuel Gas Co. proposed a decade ago to build a two-foot wide, 96-mile pipeline that would run through parts of Allegany, Cattaraugus and Erie counties, as well as one county in Pennsylvania, and carry natural gas to a variety of places in North America.

Food prices are high and older Americans are struggling to fill their pantries. But there are efforts in Washington, D.C., to help curb the trend.

It's called the Older Americans Act, which includes a nutrition program that provides millions of affordable meals to older adults. It’s no secret, the number of Americans older than the age of 65 is growing, and right now, 1 in every 4 of them are skimping on basic needs like food.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, of New York, will relinquish his role as the top Democrat on the powerful House Judiciary Committee in the next Congress, according to a letter to colleagues on Wednesday.

Nadler has been the party’s top member of the committee for seven years, as chairman from 2019 to 2022 and ranking member since then.

Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as a U.S. District Court judge for the Northern District of New York.

The former Democratic congressman was nominated by President Joe Biden in July for the position to replace David Hurd, who is retiring.

Outgoing U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito is lobbying to be President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Drug Enforcement Agency administrator after he narrowly lost his reelection bid in November, members of his team told Spectrum News 1 Wednesday.

The Long Island Republican congressman’s endeavor after leaving the House of Representatives was first reported by Axios. Trump’s first pick to run the DEA, Hillsborough County, Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister, withdrew his name from consideration Wednesday.

Congressional Democrats Tuesday scolded Andrew Cuomo, saying the former governor and his top aides were less than candid about the number of nursing home deaths in the state during the pandemic.

While most Democrats generally agree with the former governor that President-elect Donald Trump botched the country’s COVID-19 response, those House Democrats investigating the pandemic don’t have Cuomo’s back when it comes to his defense of how he tabulated nursing home deaths.

The dean of New York’s delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Jerry Nadler, is fighting a movement to replace him as the top Democrat on the powerful Judiciary Committee.

If Nadler is ousted, it could open the door for another notable New York Democrat, Bronx Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to land a high-profile role in the new Congress.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer has been reelected as leader of the Senate Democrats and will continue leading the caucus as it shifts back to the minority with Donald Trump once again in the White House.

“I am honored and humbled to be chosen by my colleagues to continue leading Senate Democrats during this crucial period for our country. Our caucus has led the way in passing historic legislation that has improved the lives of millions of Americans and we remain laser focused on addressing the most pressing challenges facing our country,” Schumer said Tuesday in a post on X. “As I have long said, our preference is to secure bipartisan solutions wherever possible and look for ways to collaborate with our Republican colleagues to help working families. However, our Republican colleagues should make no mistake about it, we will always stand up for our values.”

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, of New York, is now fighting to remain the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee after Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin said Monday he also wants the job.

There will be a vote of the committee by Democrats at some point to decide whether Nadler will keep his position.

A staffer for U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle was charged by the U.S. Capitol Police for carrying unlawful ammunition on Capitol grounds, authorities said Monday morning. The staffer has since lost his job.

Capitol Police said in a statement that Michael Hopkins, 38, entered the Cannon House Office building and put his bag through screening, where authorities detected what appeared to be ammunition on the X-ray screen.

In his final weeks as Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer is making it a priority to stave off the end of Medicare coverage for telehealth and related services, set to expire at the end of the year.

“They won’t do it anymore, and that means if you want telehealth, you have to pay it out of your own pocket, or the hospital has to pay for it,” he said of the looming deadline known as the “telehealth cliff.”

The transition team for Donald Trump said Wednesday that several of the president-elect's appointees, including Cabinet nominees, were targeted with bomb threats and swatting Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Calling the threats “violent” and “unAmerican,” Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt did not say which, or how many, officials had been targeted but said law enforcement acted quickly to ensure their safety.

One of the keys to helping people climb out of opioid addiction is to ensure access to help, including access to buprenorphine, a medication proven to reduce overdose deaths.

A 2023 federal law called the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act, or MAT Act, helps to do just that by increasing the number of medical professionals who can prescribe the drug from 130,000 to 1.8 million.

Democrat Laura Gillen started her congressional career off with a win Thursday morning.

The incoming Nassau County congresswoman nabbed first dibs on vacant office space, in the lottery for incoming House members.

Before they declined to share how they would vote on President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominations, you might have heard multiple U.S. senators state on last weekend’s Sunday morning talk shows that the Senate has the responsibility to provide "advice and consent" on appointments. It’s true. Under the U.S. Constitution, the Senate must confirm a president’s cabinet nominations. But what about Trump's demand for so-called “recess appointments?"

These kinds of appointments don’t need a vote by the Senate and could be in place for up to two years.

Outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell gave U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik a glowing review after meeting with her Thursday regarding her nomination to be the next ambassador to the United Nations.

"The world’s largest international organization is in dire need of a wake-up call, and Representative Stefanik is uniquely well-suited to deliver it,” McConnell said.

New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand won reelection to her third full term in office just over two weeks ago, but she’s not letting any grass grow under her feet. Instead, the state’s junior senator has expressed an interest in chairing the Senate Democratic Campaign arm, and she’s urging students to apply for a Cyber Service Academy scholarship program which provides full college tuition.

Gillibrand, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke with Capital Tonight about the president-elect’s tentative nomination of Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense – a nomination that she has serious concerns about, although she stated she is looking forward to meeting with each and every one of the cabinet nominees.

Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres is not ruling out a run for governor against fellow Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul, telling Spectrum News NY1 “we have a leadership crisis in America, and nowhere is it more profound than in New York."

In an interview Wednesday, Torres said he has made “no final decision” but, he argued, the gains President-elect Donald Trump made in traditionally Democratic New York in this year’s election are a “vote of no confidence in the leadership of New York state.”

In two months, President Joe Biden will be heading for the exits. And his would-be heir, Vice President Kamala Harris, will be following him out the door.

As Democrats regroup following this month’s elections, which left them out of power in Washington, many are turning to Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to help forge a path forward and lead their comeback.

Manhattan prosecutors Tuesday opposed efforts by President-elect Trump’s legal team to dismiss his 34-count felony conviction and are asking the judge to freeze the case while Trump serves out his four-year term.

Trump’s election victory has complicated the future of the case, and so did a Supreme Court decision back in July that gave presidents sweeping immunity from criminal prosecution.

WASHINGTON — House Leader Hakeem Jeffries won reelection Tuesday as the Democratic leader, receiving support from his colleagues despite the party's inability to win back majority control of the chamber in the November election.

Jeffries of New York was chosen during an internal party vote of the House Democrats underway at the Capitol. Most of the Democratic leadership team is expected to be reelected for the new Congress.

Incoming New York Rep. Josh Riley is joining a chorus calling on OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, to rethink its proposed new safety standards for firefighters.

He said he was concerned about the possible impact on New York volunteer firefighters.

As lawmakers get back to work in Washington, there are a couple of issues that are front and center for elected officials in the Hudson Valley and Long Island.

The first is congestion pricing, which Gov. Kathy Hochul has reembraced, and President-elect Donald Trump has again panned.

Democrat Chris Ryan declared victory and Republican Salina Town Supervisor Nick Paro conceded the close race for New York's 50th state Senate District, both campaigns said Friday afternoon following more counting of absentee and affidavit ballots a week and a half after Election Day.

"I am deeply honored by the trust the people of the 50th State Senate District have placed in me. With the majority of ballots scanned and the margin greater than than the outstanding ballots remaining, I am proud to declare victory," Ryan said in a statement Friday. "Throughout the campaign, I listened to your concerns and hopes for our future. You’ve called for a senator who will fight for good-paying jobs, quality schools, health care access, safe and affordable communities, and smart economic investments for the future. Now, I am ready to get to work delivering on these issues."

New York’s U.S. House victories were among the few bright spots this election season for Democrats.

Democrats flipped three seats: the 22nd Congressional District in Central New York, the 4th District on Long Island and the 19th District in the Southern Tier and Hudson Valley. But it wasn’t enough to flip control of the House, which is still in Republican hands.

U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro left the door wide open to future public service after conceding his reelection loss Tuesday to Josh Riley in New York's 19th Congressional District, including not ruling out making a play for Rep. Elise Stefanik’s seat, which would be vacant if she were to be confirmed as U.N. ambassador.

"I am not done providing public service to the people of the state of New York, and quite frankly, considering what options might be available to me moving forward,” Molinaro told Spectrum News 1 Tuesday evening on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

A week after winning her re-election bid, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said Tuesday she's inviting President-elect Donald Trump to tour the semiconductor manufacturing industry in New York.

"So that he can see for himself that these are jobs that will last for decades and that we want to be competitive with China, something he's said publicly many times, he wants to out compete China. New York is the way to do that," she told Spectrum News 1.

Republican U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro on Tuesday evening conceded the race for New York's 19th Congressional District to Democrat Josh Riley, fully concluding the rematch contest from two years ago that was one of the most closely watched races in the country.

"Our race didn’t go the way we had hoped, but let me tell you, I am so proud of what we’ve built together," Molinaro said in a statement. "This campaign was about more than just winning a seat; it was about standing up for the people who make this state great, who work hard, who love their families, and who believe in the promise of New York and this nation."

A week after Election Day, as President-elect Donald Trump announces cabinet nominees and the Senate Republicans gear up for a leadership race, control of the U.S. House of Representatives remains unknown.

The trendlines indicate, like two years ago, Republicans will maintain a narrow majority in Capitol Hill’s lower chamber, but the Associated Press has yet to declare the party has won the necessary seats to clinch control. As of Tuesday afternoon, AP has declared Republicans have won 214 seats while Democrats have won 205, with 218 needed to win a majority. There are 16 uncalled races, mostly on the West Coast, where California in particular has a number of purple districts that will be decided by close margins.

Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination by President-elect Donald Trump for U.N. ambassador brings up the inevitable conversation about who will replace her. While the official process of selecting a replacement has not yet begun, speculation certainly has.

The seat has been a Republican stronghold since 2014, but was represented by former Democratic Rep. Bill Owens for several years. The process will begin once Stefanik resigns and Gov. Kathy Hochul calls a special election. State law gives parties latitude in the methods by which they select their nominee.

Former U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm, a New York Republican who resigned from Congress following a tax fraud conviction, is paralyzed from the chest down after being thrown from a horse during a polo tournament, according to friends who are raising funds to pay for the ex-lawmaker's medical care.

Grimm, 54, suffered the devastating injury in September and is now being treated at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in New Jersey, where the late actor Christopher Reeve was treated after a similar equestrian accident in 1995, according to Vincent Ignizio, a friend of Grimm's who is a former New York City Council member.

Two years after he helped orchestrate the CHIPS and Science Act, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday said he’s confident the legislation will remain intact despite the changes of power coming to the White House and Congress.

“The CHIPS Act has always been bipartisan so I believe it will certainly survive,” Schumer told reporters at an event highlighting toxic algae blooms in Penn Yan, New York.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing for a boost in federal funding to combat toxic algae blooms in the Finger Lakes region.

Speaking in Penn Yan on Monday, Schumer says the region has seen more harmful algae blooms (HABs) this year than anywhere else in the state. According to the majority leader, Seneca Lake reported a record-breaking 50 blooms from Aug. 24-29. Canandaigua Lake also recorded 42 blooms from Sept. 6-13 that led to the closure of two local beaches. There were also 16 blooms at Cayuga Lake and Keuka Lake saw 21, of which 11 were identified as harmful algae blooms.

New York Democrats are heading back home after traveling to Puerto Rico for the annual SOMOS political conference, where lawmakers convened and recounted what went wrong for the party in the presidential election.

Jessica Ramos, a state senator and New York City mayoral candidate, was among those in attendance and told "Mornings On 1" Monday that conversations around the Nov. 5 election dominated the conference.

President-elect Donald Trump will nominate Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., to be ambassador to the United Nations.

Trump said in a statement Monday morning he is “honored to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter.”

Democrats are celebrating the passage of New York state’s Equal Rights Amendment and three U.S. House pickups on Long Island, in the Hudson Valley and in Syracuse. The congressional victories were quite a shift from 2022 when Republicans flipped those very same seats.

So what changed to make these seats winnable for Democrats?

Republican Rep. Mike Lawler joined "Mornings On 1" on Friday, reflecting on his reelection in a New York district long considered a Democratic stronghold.

Lawler, who received 52.4% of the vote, overcame a strong challenge from Mondaire Jones, who gained 45.6% of the vote, to secure a second term in a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 80,000 voters. He attributed his success to high voter turnout in Rockland County.

Congresswoman-elect Laura Gillen promised to be an “independent” representative in Congress who focuses on bipartisanship, one day after she was declared the winner of New York's 4th Congressional District race.

The Democrat, whose district covers parts of Long Island, secured 50.9% of the vote, defeating Republican incumbent Anthony D’Esposito, who garnered 49.1%. Gillen's win marks one of three seats flipped by New York Democrats, though the overall balance of power in the House remains undecided. As of Friday, 25 races are yet to be called, with 218 wins needed for a majority.

His name was not on the ballot, but Tuesday’s election is costing Sen. Chuck Schumer a job he long sought: Senate majority leader.

After a handful of their incumbents failed to win reelection to the Senate, Democrats are poised to lose control of the U.S. Senate starting in January, ending a four-year stint in the majority. The loss will also amount to a demotion for Schumer, who has served as majority leader during that period.

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, who was reelected Tuesday, said voter dissatisfaction is behind the increase in Republican votes in New York City.

While New York’s 28 electoral votes were secured by Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump gained more votes in the city than he did in the 2020 election. Still, the city's largely Democratic congressional delegation will return to the House, with Malliotakis continuing to represent the 11th Congressional District, which covers southern Brooklyn and Staten Island.

U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro said Wednesday he will accept the results of the state's 19th Congressional District race, but will not concede to his leading Democratic opponent until election officials finish counting thousands of absentee ballots.

The Associated Press declared Democrat Josh Riley as the victor of New York's 19th District — one of the most expensive races in the country, and considered a toss-up throughout the election cycle.

The race for New York’s 22nd Congressional District went decisively to Democratic state Sen. John Mannion Tuesday night, unseating first-term Republican Rep. Brandon Williams. While a string of losses in 2022 had Democrats on edge in the state’s competitive congressional races, it’s becoming clear that Mannion was probably relatively safe from the beginning given how election night played out.

Grant Reeher, professor of political science at Syracuse University, said that he never believed the hype that this race was going to be a big tossup the way it turned out to be in 2022, and can point to at least 15 reasons why Mannion won.

The race between Democratic Onondaga County Legislator Chris Ryan and Republican Salina Town Supervisor Nick Paro to fill the open seat in New York’s 50th state Senate District remained too close to call Wednesday.

Ryan, with all districts reporting, leads Paro by 548 votes.

U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle has won a fourth term in Congress, the Associated Press declares. Morelle defeats Republican businessman Gregg Sadwick 65.1% to 34.9%, according to the latest unofficial results from AP.

Morelle, the Democratic incumbent, will return to Washington to represent the Rochester area in the 25th Congressional District seat, which encompasses all of Monroe County and parts of northwestern Ontario County, including Victor.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler has earned victory in his bid for a second term in Congress, the Associated Press has declared Wednesday morning.

Lawler held back a challenge from former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones in the race for New York’s 17th Congressional District.

For Josh Riley, the second time’s the charm.

The fifth-generation Endicott native and lawyer will win the race for New York’s 19th Congressional District, the Associated Press has declared, unseating Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro in a bitter rematch contest from two years ago.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will be reelected to a third full term representing New York in Capitol Hill's upper chamber, the Associated Press declares.

According to the AP, with approximately 96.29% of the expected vote tallied as of 5 a.m. Wednesday, Gillibrand had 58.1% of the vote, while the Republican candidate, Michael Sapraicone, had 41.5% of the vote.

Democratic state Sen. John Mannion will win the race for New York’s 22nd Congressional District, the Associated Press has declared, unseating Republican Rep. Brandon Williams and becoming the first Democrat to win the Syracuse-based district since 2012.

The two-term state legislator was leading the congressman 54% to 46%, according to the latest unofficial results from AP. Rep. Williams called Mannion to concede.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan has been reelected to a second full term representing parts of the Hudson Valley in Congress, holding off a challenge from Republican Alison Esposito in the race for New York’s 18th Congressional District, the Associated Press has declared.

The freshman congressman was leading the former NYPD officer 59% to 41% with 72% of the expected vote counted, according to the latest unofficial results from AP.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, the third-highest ranking House Republican, cruised to a sixth term in Congress on Tuesday, defeating Democrat Paula Collins in New York's 21st Congressional District, the Associated Press has declared.

Voters in the North Country preferred Stefanik, an incumbent Republican and staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, over Collins, a cannabis tax attorney, 62% to 38%, with about three-quarters of the vote in, according to the AP.

U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney will win a second term representing New York’s 24th Congressional District, the Associated Press declares.

The Republican lawmaker was defeating Democratic challenger David Wagenhauser in Tuesday’s elections 62.8% to 37.2%, according to the latest unofficial results from AP.

Rep. Paul Tonko handily won reelection to Congress on Tuesday, beating Albany Law School student Kevin Waltz in New York's 20th Congressional District, the Associated Press declared.

The Democrat, who maintains a robust presence in the Capital Region district and has been strong ally of the Biden administration, led Waltz 68% to 32% with more than a third of the expected vote in, according to the latest unofficial results from AP.

ALBANY, N.Y. — New Yorkers could play an outsized role Tuesday in determining control of the U.S. House as Republicans cling to suburban seats they won two years ago by seizing on fears of crime, and Democrats try to claw them back by warning that a right-wing Congress might ban abortion.

If everything goes their way, Democrats hope to pick off a handful of Republican incumbents in congressional races on Long Island and in the Hudson River Valley, as well as a central New York district that state leaders recently reconfigured to make more favorable to Democrats.

The year 2024 has been an active one for New York’s delegation in the House of Representatives. A new set of congressional maps was submitted and approved, ending a years-long legal battle. Then there were two special elections — one of which to replace former Rep. George Santos after his historic expulsion — followed by a few bruising primary elections this spring.

It all comes after the 2022 elections in which Democratic House candidates across the country largely held their own and prevented an overwhelming “red wave.” But New York stood out in stark contrast. Republicans flipped four Democratic seats in the Empire State, the number that ultimately helped the GOP win their thin majority in the chamber.

A comment made by House Speaker Mike Johnson while campaigning in upstate New York is giving Democrats last-minute fodder for their final push to win control of the U.S. House.

After rallying in a Syracuse-area battleground congressional district Friday, Johnson told reporters that Republicans could try to repeal the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act if their party controls the levers of power in Washington after Tuesday's election.

House Speaker Mike Johnson walked back comments critical of the CHIPS and Science Act during a stop in upstate New York Friday, miles from where Micron plans to use billions from that law to fuel up to 9,000 jobs.

The question posed to Johnson, who was in Syracuse to rally with Republican Rep. Brandon Williams in his reelection bid in New York’s 22nd Congressional District, came after former President Donald Trump recently criticized the bill last week during a podcast interview.

It’s a high-stakes political rematch on the south shore of Nassau County, with Republicans and Democrats battling for control of the House of Representatives.

“The district is one that, of course, is getting a tremendous amount of national attention,” Don Levy, director of the Siena College Research Institute, said of NY-04, which covers central and southern Nassau County.

This election, he has warned, is about the economy. Freedom. Stopping Project 2025 and the MAGA extremes.

And, after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, it's about democracy.

The race for the 19th Congressional District is one of the most competitive in the country and remains a toss-up just days before the election.

The 11-county district spans from the Hudson Valley to the Finger Lakes, and is one of five critical seats in New York that could determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A semiconductor research facility in Albany was selected as one of three national technology centers and will receive up to $825 million in funding as part of a broader federal effort to boost the United States' competitiveness in the industry.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer made the announcement Thursday.

It is one of the few congressional seats in New York where Democrats are on the defensive.

Hudson Valley Rep. Pat Ryan, a Democrat, is looking to rebuff a challenge from Republican Alison Esposito in New York’s 18th District.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo should be brought up on criminal charges for providing false statements to the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic earlier this year during its investigation into how his administration handled nursing home policies during the initial weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the chairman of the Republican-led panel said in a referral written Wednesday to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Cuomo made untrue statements in an interview with members of the subcommittee about his involvement in and knowledge of the drafting of a July 6 state Health Department report, “Factors Associated with Nursing Home Infections and Fatalities in New York State During the COVID-19 Global Health Crisis,” according to the letter, signed by subcommittee chair Rep. Brad Wenstrup, a Republican from Ohio.

New York is getting extra attention this year as Democrats in the solidly blue state work to avoid the red wave that hit certain congressional districts in 2022. As New York takes center stage less than a week out from Election Day, Republicans are spending a good deal of time here.

While former President Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally Sunday is unlikely to tip New York’s electoral votes in his direction, Republican congressional candidates have a lot riding on turnout as House of Representatives control is almost certain to run through the Empire State.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, will make appearances in several of New York’s competitive districts at the end of the week as the campaign season enters its final days with New York potentially being decisive in which party controls the chamber.

Johnson, R-Louisiana, will campaign on Thursday in Rockland County with Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in his reelection bid in New York's 17th Congressional District, which is made up of Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and southern Dutchess counties.

As Election Day approaches, candidates for New York’s 20th Congressional District are making their final pitches to voters.

The incumbent, Democratic U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, who has represented the district since 2009, is seeking a ninth term in office. He's being challenged by Kevin Waltz, an Albany Law student looking to bring a different perspective to this competitive race.

Outside of the race for the White House, the contest for New York’s 22nd Congressional District promises to be one of the most closely watched races in the nation on election night. It’s one of Democrats’ best shots to pick up a seat coast to coast.

The district covers Onondaga and Madison counties, as well as parts of Cayuga, Cortland and Oneida counties, including the cities of Syracuse and Utica. The race pits incumbent Republican Rep. Brandon Williams against Democratic state Sen. John Mannion.

CLARENCE, N.Y. -- Republican U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy is wrapping up his freshman term in New York's 23rd Congressional District.

He said it's been a busy two years traveling across the large district that includes parts of Western New York and the Southern Tier.

Republican incumbent Claudia Tenney is being challenged by Democrat David Wagenhauser in the 24th Congressional District race.

Both candidates say they’re eager to work with both sides of the aisle.

In the race for New York's 25th Congressional District race, Republican businessman Gregg Sadwick is challenging Democratic incumbent Joe Morelle.

Both described their top priorities.

When New Yorkers tune in to watch the Yankees take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in game one of the World Series Friday night, they will also see a campaign ad for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

The 30-second spot, which touts Gillibrand’s work on legislation to help 9/11 first responders and veterans exposed to toxic burn pits, is also scheduled to run during the second game of the series, Spectrum News has learned.

In the two years since U.S. Rep. Brandon Williams won election by just one percentage point in New York's 22nd Congressional District, the state's Democratic leaders have done what they could to make him the most endangered Republican in Congress.

The Legislature changed the boundaries of his district, taking out rural areas that strongly favored Donald Trump and adding Cortland, resulting in a new territory where voters favored Joe Biden by 11 points in the 2020 presidential election.

Democrat Paula Collins is challenging Republican incumbent Rep. Elise Stefanik in the race for New York's 21st Congressional District.

Collins, a cannabis tax attorney, says her experience outside of politics is what makes her stand out.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- In many ways, Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy has been campaigning for the better part of the year.

Kennedy won a special election to fill New York's 26th Congressional District seat in late April. He's once again running as a favorite in the heavily blue district with Republican candidate Anthony Marecki not actively campaigning.

Spectrum News will host a live debate on Wednesday, Oct. 23, between candidates for one of New York's two U.S. Senate seats.

Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Republican Mike Sapraicone will appear in the debate, which starts at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News, and will be hosted by political anchors Errol Louis and Susan Arbetter.

In a blue state like New York, it can be tough for a Republican to throw their hat into the ring and win statewide.

In 2022, the GOP’s U.S. Senate candidate, businessman and political commentator Joe Pinion, put up the strongest challenge to Sen. Chuck Schumer since the Democrat was first elected back in 1998.

As their contentious race for Congress enters the final couple of weeks, Rep. Marc Molinaro and his Democratic challenger Josh Riley are still going at it over the issue of immigration in their race to represent New York’s 19th Congressional District.

Molinaro, a Republican, signed on to co-sponsor a bill this week that would prevent a U.S. Department of Homeland Security program used by FEMA from using any funds on transporting and housing migrants. Instead, the bill would divert money earmarked for those purposes to be spent on disaster relief.

Some fans disappointed with how athletes perform on game day will often let them know exactly how they feel. There's a separation between the field and the stands, but online, that distance can shrink to near nothing. Add in sports gambling losses, and it can turn nasty.

If sports weren’t exciting enough, add a wager to the mix and fans become even more engaged with the game. But in some circumstances, the engagement crosses a line.

U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY-26) has introduced a new bill, the Homeward Bound Act, which would give military families, diplomatic families and service dogs an 18-month waiver from the CDC's new pet travel rule, which requires all dogs coming into the U.S. from other countries be at least 6 months old and microchipped to help prevent the spread of rabies.

The proposed bill would also eliminate the age requirement and require microchips for dogs born after enactment of the bill.

Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan and Republican Alison Esposito engaged in a spirited debate hosted by Spectrum News 1 Wednesday evening featuring issues hotly contested on the federal level that are also central to the Hudson Valley congressional district both want to represent.

With immigration one of the top issues in this year’s elections and a top-of-mind issue for New York voters since the migrant crisis took hold in the spring of 2023, Esposito said the country needs to secure the southern border, reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy and pass legal lawful immigration reform.

Democrats in New York’s competitive U.S. House races built on their cash advantage in the third quarter of this year. They outraised their GOP rivals in all of the key contests.

With one exception, those Democrats also each reported having more cash on hand at the end of September, just in time for the final stretch of campaigning.