Super PAC spending in state races down, but not out

After spending a lot during contentious primary races in June, most outside groups have significantly dialed back their spending for the general election, especially compared to past years. But some super PACs are still trying to weigh in on a handful of competitive races this year, as Democrats in both the state Senate and Assembly attempt to hold onto their super majorities for the upcoming session.

The biggest single independent expenditure for the general election so far came from the New York City Police Benevolent Association in support of Democratic Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato. The union’s super PAC dropped $200,000 on digital, direct mail, radio and television ads to support the moderate Democratic incumbent from Queens against her Republican challenger Tom Sullivan. This is a rematch for the pair, and Pheffer Amato only narrowly managed to fend off Sullivan in 2022, so financial support from a union that has historically supported Republicans is significant. 

The New York City PBA officially endorsed her on Sept. 27. Days later, on Oct. 1, the union’s independent expenditure committee began spending its cash in support of Pheffer Amato. So far, she is the only candidate that the union is supporting through independent expenditures.

As usual, the pro-charter school group New Yorkers for A Balanced Albany is weighing in on a handful of races after playing a large role in several primaries earlier this year. The group, which is associated with the charter school advocacy group Students First New York, spent its largest sum of $150,000 to back state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton. The Staten Island Democrat won her first election two years ago to replace former state Sen. Diane Savino, a fellow moderate Democrat. But her margin of victory for the open seat was less than 2 percentage points, so a reelection victory to secure her place in the state Legislature could be tough to achieve. Her Republican opponent Marko Kepi previously ran for a City Council and Assembly seat in the area, though he lost both times.

New Yorkers for A Balanced Albany also spent $80,000 in support of bringing back former state Sen. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick in the Hudson Valley. The Democrat is attempting a rematch against Republican state Sen. Bill Weber, who bested him two years ago during an election cycle that also saw Republican victories in battleground Hudson Valley congressional districts. And on Long Island, the charter school group has spent $115,000 in support of Democratic state Sen. Monica Martinez, who has her own rocky electoral history. After flipping her seat in 2018, she lost her reelection in 2020 to Republican state Sen. Alexis Weik. But redistricting gave her a second chance, and she won the newly drawn 4th State Senate District in a close race. Martinez is now on her second chance at winning a second term. 

Martinez, Scarcella-Spanton and Pheffer Amato are also among several candidates receiving financial support from the bipartisan Jobs New York Committee, which is associated with the Business Council of New York State. The group has spent in a total of 10 races, supporting both Democrats and Republicans, apparently in hopes of sinking the controversial Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, according to committee filings. That proposed legislation, which aims to reduce New York’s plastic use by 30% over 12 years, would apply to companies that make at least $5 million a year and establish what is known as an extended producer responsibility system, which places the onus of waste and recycling on the companies creating the materials. The Business Council of New York State was one of the bill’s chief opponents and continued to oppose it even after several changes were made to address some businesses’ concerns.

The legislation came close to passing at the end of the legislative session in June, with leaders and the governor agreeing to a three-way compromise. Although the final version passed the state Senate, the bill was ultimately never brought up for a vote in the Assembly, after Gov. Kathy Hochul’s last-minute decision to pause congestion pricing derailed lawmakers’ final days in Albany.

The Business Council’s super PAC spent the most individually on the three Republicans it is backing: state Sen. Anthony Palumbo and Assembly Members Scott Bendett and Joseph DeStefano. In addition to Scarcella-Spanton, Pheffer Amato and Martinez, the group is also spending to back Democratic Assembly Members Monica Wallace, Michaelle Solages, Pamela Hunter and Carrie Woerner. 

Paul Zuber, executive vice president of the Business Council, told City & State that the spending this year is something relatively new for the group. “I think that what we realize at the Business Council is that we need to be more aggressive, Zuber said. “We need to be more out there, you know, advocating and doing the same type of things that other organizations have been doing for a very long time.” He said that the package recycling bill “ignited” the independent expenditure push but said that the candidates chosen for this cycle were chosen because each one has “given us a fair and honest opportunity to have conversations with them.” While several face competitive elections, others like Solages and Hunter are comfortable in their general elections.