Hochul promotes heating assistance amid criticisms of Democrats’ affordability platform

Gov. Kathy Hochul touted the state’s energy affordability initiatives ahead of winter, just after Democrats saw many portions of the state swing to the right, in part, on kitchen table issues. The Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides low-income New Yorkers with a discount on their electric or natural gas bills, is seen as a way to help ease the pain of increasing utility costs. Although like many state programs that use federal funding, its future isn’t completely certain under an incoming Donald Trump administration.

Still, Hochul and Democrats may be wise to pivot the conversation to what they can do for New Yorkers’ wallets at a time when voters across the country just expressed they believe Republicans are better equipped to do so.

Beneficiaries of the program can receive up to $996 in heating assistance during the winter, and can apply a second time in case of emergency, and the household income threshold was raised to $76,681 this year. Home heating costs are one of the few uniting causes in New York politics.

“This is an important priority for not just New York, but across the nation,” Hochul told reporters Tuesday. “This program, as you heard from local Albany residents struggling to pay their bills, this program is a lifesaver. It is essential. And we do rely on $400 million federal dollars annually for this, and my view is that we’d like to see it increased and sending out a message that this is an important part of ours.”

Further complicating the governor’s message around affordability is her upcoming decision on congestion pricing and the amount of the final toll. Before the incoming Trump administration potentially tries to kill congestion pricing, Hochul has been talking with the federal government about a $9 toll, instead of the agreed-upon $15 toll that she indefinitely paused, to the chagrin of transit advocates.

It’s difficult to say what the benefit of the pause was after Republicans made inroads in New York, but polling from June showed a plurality of voters supported the pause even if they didn’t support Hochul.

There was bound to be soul searching for Democrats after Election Day and some political observers have said focusing on what the party can materially achieve for the working class is the best way forward.

“It definitely is smart of the governor, and behooves her and Democrats across the state to be focusing on bread-and-butter issues, affordability being top of that list, and that is obviously very closely linked to inflation,” political consultant Jake Dilemani said. 

For Hochul, who in spite of last week’s national results can claim victory for flipping three House seats, her message to New Yorkers is clearer than ever, and it may need to begin soon with Republican Rep. Mike Lawler hinting at a gubernatorial challenge in 2026.

“I just enumerated what we’ve been doing, billions of dollars in tax cuts and providing assistance for seniors, and what you heard here today, what we’re doing for child care, we’re going to do back-to-school shopping, I don’t know how you don’t look at that list and conclude that this governor is doing everything in her power and more to ensure that we improve affordability, knowing it’s a challenge,” Hochul said. “I mean, I know where I come from. I know that people still left at the trailer park my parents lived in, and I know how people are struggling all across our state.”