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The Behind-the-Scenes Rainmakers of Andrew Cuomo’s Campaign

The campaign has created 64 public fundraising web pages for people to raise money on its behalf. But it didn’t disclose any intermediaries.

Julia Rock and Chris Bragg   ·   March 28, 2025
Cuomo and Burgos
Cuomo Failed to Disclose Lobbyists Who Bundled Donations

Donors solicited by at least three undisclosed bundlers — Tonio Burgos, Jim Whelan, and Rick Ostroff — were told their gifts would be matched with public funds, despite that being barred by city election law.

Chris Bragg and Julia Rock   ·   March 20, 2025
The Solidarity PAC logo is superimposed on the sky behind New York City Hall.
Pro-Israel Group Raised Tens of Thousands for NYC Council Candidates

The candidates did not disclose Solidarity PAC’s fundraising role in campaign finance disclosures.

Chris Gelardi and Julia Rock   ·   March 20, 2025
Cuomo’s State-Funded Defense Lawyers Are Throwing Him a Fundraiser

They got tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to defend Andrew Cuomo against scandal. Now, they’re helping fund his comeback.

Chris Bragg, Akash Mehta and Julia Rock   ·   March 11, 2025
Photo collage of a desk with a notepad and voice recorder in a newsroom.
Reporters’ Notebook: Covering Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State

Our team will be descending upon Albany on Tuesday. Here’s what they’ll be watching.

New York Focus   ·   January 13, 2025
The Queens Supreme Courthouse houses the Surrogate's Court, where Brandon Bishunauth's court case has played out over the past two years.
In Fight Over Fortune, a Young Man Takes on the Kingmakers of Queens

Brandon Bishunauth is an unlikely candidate to pick a fight with a bastion of old-time machine politics.

Chris Bragg   ·   January 6, 2025
A photo illustration showing the New York Stock Exchange building and the street sign for Wall Street.
Why’s a Finance Titan Dropping $1 Million on Bronx Elections?

The whole thing is just — weird.

Sam Mellins   ·   November 25, 2024
We Investigated the Bronx Democratic Party. Here’s What We Learned.

Our reporting spurred the disclosure of millions in spending and illuminated the networks behind the Bronx political machine.

Sam Mellins and Chris Bragg   ·   November 15, 2024
A photo illustration showing Governor Kathy Hochul's face and migrants walking down a NYC street.
Will Hochul Fight Trump’s Plan for ‘Mass Deportations’?

Trump is poised to ramp up deportation activity in northern states like New York, which has few statewide policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Chris Gelardi   ·   November 12, 2024
A roll of "I Voted" stickers
How Low Voter Turnout Helped Trump Gain Ground in New York

Trump picked up some votes in New York this year. But Democrats lost far more.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   November 9, 2024
A photo illustration showing President Donald Trump and NYC Mayor Eric Adams with backgrounds of the White House and Albany Capitol Building.
A Weak Showing From Harris, a Strong One from Congressional Dems, and a Win for Abortion Access: How New Yorkers Voted

Last month, we asked five questions about what would happen in the election. Here are the answers.

Sam Mellins and Chris Bragg   ·   November 6, 2024
The logo of a baby in a stroller lays above a background of dollar signs on bricks.
New York ‘Birth Grant’ Bill Would Pay New Parents With Medicaid Funds

A proposal from state Senator Andrew Gounardes would send some new parents $1,800 in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Julia Rock   ·   November 4, 2024
State Senator Jamaal Bailey is shown during a senate session at the NY State Capitol in 2019.
Payday: Bronx Dems Spent Nearly $300,000 on Consultancy Tied to Party Chair Jamaal Bailey

It’s not clear what the money was used for in a county where Democrats outnumber Republicans ten-to-one.

Sam Mellins and Chris Bragg   ·   October 24, 2024
The word "fixed" is overlaid on top of a Bronx city skyline with a background of $20 bills.
Oh, There It Is! Bronx Dems Fix Disclosure Failure After New York Focus Reporting.

The disclosures included over a dozen missing or incomplete reports covering a period of more than four years.

Sam Mellins and Chris Bragg   ·   October 22, 2024
Law Firm Receiving Lucrative Contracts Has Donated to Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander

Pomerantz LLP attorneys have donated to comptroller candidates for decades, highlighting a loophole in rules meant to keep government contractors from spending in city elections.

Julia Rock   ·   October 21, 2024
A collage of images showing the Albany Capitol building, Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump, and NYC Mayor Eric Adams.
Cheat Sheet: Navigating New York’s 2024 Elections

Here are the five topics we’re watching with the elections less than three weeks away.

Chris Bragg and Sam Mellins   ·   October 16, 2024
An image shows a closeup of a magnifying glass and $20 bills behind the Bronx skyline.
Where’s The Money? More Than $400,000 Missing from Bronx Democratic Party Disclosures

The chair of Assembly Democrats’ campaign committee said he wasn’t aware his organization had sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Bronx.

Sam Mellins   ·   October 15, 2024
NYC Mayor Eric Adams delivers remarks at a flag-raising ceremony for the Republic of Korea in Bowling Green Park, NYC.
Adams Scandal Exposes Potential Flaws in NYC’s Campaign Finance System

The indictment has exposed cracks in New York’s widely admired way of helping fund campaigns.

Julia Rock and Mark Chiusano   ·   October 7, 2024
Donald Trump walking
Trump Plans to Kill Congestion Pricing. Hochul’s Pause Could Let Him.

There are at least three ways a Trump administration could try to stop the transit-funding toll.

Sam Mellins   ·   August 26, 2024
A hand places a ballot with the Solidarity PAC logo in a ballot box.
Pro-Israel PAC Floods Assembly Races With Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars

The recently formed Solidarity PAC has mobilized big finance and real estate to target socialists and the Working Families Party.

Chris Gelardi and Julia Rock   ·   June 6, 2024
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