Consolidating state and federal primary elections in New York State would save millions in taxpayer dollars

New York State's electoral system often feels like a cynical game of musical chairs.

Under the current arrangement, in the same year, state elected officials can run for federal office, with a primary election in June, lose the primary, and still have the opportunity to run for state office, with a primary election in September.


Not only is this system a waste of millions of taxpayer dollars, it creates incentives for politicians to run for multiple offices at once without any real consequences.

Two years ago, State Sen. Adriano Espaillat ran against incumbent Rep.Charles Rangel for the newly drawn 13th Congressional District. During that race, Sen. Espaillat pledged that he would not seek re-election to the State Senate if he lost his race for Congress.

But that's not what happened. Sen. Espaillat wound up losing the Congressional race by nearly 1100 votes and as soon as he conceded, many New Yorkers – myself one of them – assumed he would honor his word and refrain from seeking reelection for his state senate seat. But he did not.

I, too, ran for Congress in 2010 while occupying a state elected office (State Assembly). And though I gave up my seat to run for Congress, there's an undeniable temptation to seek election for two distinct elected offices in the same year.

I urge Sen. Espaillat to pledge not to run for both seats at once. But regardless of what he does, it's time to change the rules of the game.

Said plainly, this system is bad for democracy: We should know that a candidate for Congress is motivated solely by a desire to serve in Congress and not because they have a failsafe backup plan to remain in some other office should they lose.

Moving state legislative elections makes economic sense as well. Staggering elections is an unnecessary burden on taxpayers, who should only have to finance primary elections once a year – not twice or more.

Several experts have estimated that holding two statewide primary elections costs New York taxpayers more than $50 million. I think every New Yorker would be able to find a better use for millions of dollars than holding an election that serves as a vehicle for the vanity of career politicians.

Consolidating state and federal elections would be sound fiscal policy and it would be sound public policy. It would save New York taxpayers millions, and it would ensure politicians are genuinely running for the offices they pursue. It's the type of common sense solution New Yorkers deserve.

Adam Clayton Powell 4th served in the New York City Council from 1992-1997, and in the New York State Assembly from 2001-2010.