NEW YORK MINUTE: Expect federal scrutiny of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ closest aides to dominate questions posed today by reporters in Adams’ first off-topic news conference since the latest wave of FBI raids. The mayor is set to field those queries remotely since he has tested positive for Covid — and will likely face questions about what POLITICO was first to report Monday — the expected departure of his police commissioner, Edward Caban. — Emily Ngo KEEP PARTYING: New York Democrats are building a voter outreach and campaign infrastructure they want to last beyond Election Day on Nov. 5. It would be a major change from a long-held practice in New York Democratic politics — and one that comes as the party fears its toehold on statewide power is starting to slip. Now the party is marshaling labor unions, progressive advocates and longtime operatives to flip five House seats in the state through an aggressive field operation this cycle. All of this comes on top of the state Democratic Committee’s coordinating operation, which has recruited volunteers and opened offices around the state — an effort Gov. Kathy Hochul has repeatedly touted. The challenge after Nov. 5 — if Democrats are successful — is to hold any gains in 2026. Some consultants who have worked in state Democratic politics want to keep an eye on the future as well. “It’s great and I think it will help,” Tim Fullerton, a consultant and the state’s former chief digital officer, told Playbook. “What I haven’t seen yet is how does this look post-Election Day? What we need to be doing is building our power now.” In past cycles, state Democrats have failed to build on voter data efforts and follow through on using digital tools like email and social media, he said. Fullerton believes New York Democrats need to model the party off what Wisconsin Democrats have been able to do: An ongoing and ever-evolving effort to track Democratic voters using data, while also organizing for the long term. “We need organizing power in the Democratic Party,” he said. “What is the plan for all of this data that’s going to be collected in these House battles?” But Democrats working on sweeping efforts in the state believe they have an answer. Battleground New York, the Democratic-allied committee aiding down-ballot candidates, announced it raised $10.6 million as of Sept. 6 — exceeding its fundraising goal for the cycle. The group, composed of labor unions like 1199SEIU, 32BJ and the CWA, also announced it collected more than 15,000 voter registration cards. Offices in Long Island and Hudson Valley swing districts have been opened as well. Battleground has been targeting voters who may have stayed home in 2022 when the party lost key House seats — and the majority — in the closely divided chamber. It’s an effort organizers expect can be expanded upon once the dust settles this year. “The nearly $11 million we’ve raised proves two things: we can accomplish big things by working with partners across the Big Blue tent from center to left — and that door-to-door still wins the war,” said Amit S. Bagga, a Democratic consultant and donor organizer for Battleground New York and Democracy Alliance. “This approach has driven our fundraising, will drive us to victory in November, and serve as a model of cooperation across labor, donors, and community networks into the future.” Republicans, meanwhile, have their own ground-game strategy. Rep. Elise Stefanik has touted the muscular effort to aid GOP freshmen in tight races with field offices and millions of dollars in campaign cash from the National Republican Congressional Committee. NRCC spokesperson Savannah Viar told Playbook the GOP “is fully invested” in a turnout operation in New York. "Our unprecedented program includes offices, full-time staff and a get-out-the-vote operation unparalleled to anything we've ever done before,” she said. “These efforts will bring success this November once again." — Nick Reisman IT’S Tuesday. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
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