A bill that would amend New York’s special election schedule remains stalled, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins told reporters Tuesday in Albany.

Democrats in the state Legislature introduced a measure earlier this year that would allow the governor to delay congressional special elections until Election Day. Republicans labeled the measure as a pure political one, as it would directly impact the race to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik in the 21st Congressional District once she resigned to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

A delay in the race until the June primaries or November general election would keep a Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives narrow for longer, but the official rationale for giving the governor the option of consolidating special elections with the general date was a desire for efficiency in running elections and higher turnout.

Since the bill was introduced in early February, both sides have remained in a holding pattern. The bill hasn’t moved forward at all and Stefanik has yet to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate for her new position, despite her confirmation hearing being over a month ago and facing no vocal opposition that would sink her nomination.

“The governor would have to agree to it,” Stewart-Cousins said of the legislation for it to have a chance of surviving.

“Without her wanting to do it, there's no reason to,” she added.

Multiple sources at the time said the directive to shelve the bill came from Gov. Kathy Hochul, who depending on whom you ask, is either looking for leverage in her negotiations with President Donald Trump as he targets congestion pricing, or simply felt the optics of the bill were bad.

“It’s a good government proposal as far as I’m concerned that should be considered whether Elise Stefanik is in Congress or out of Congress,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, whose Democratic caucus would benefit from an open Republican seat for several months, told reporters late last week.

New York’s congressional Republicans have called on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) investigation into the matter.

Under current state law, Gov. Hochul has to schedule a special election within 10 days from being notified of a vacancy, which then has to then take place within 80 days. Since Stefanik has yet to resign, there has been no notice of vacancy. In special elections for Congress in New York state, local party committees also choose their candidates.