After claiming first prize for low voter turnout in the US, Mayor Bloomberg wants to kill the fun and make it easier for us to exercise our rights. According to a new study, New York has the most restrictive election policies in the country, and Bloomberg wants to make it simpler for New Yorkers to vote. He said in a statement, “Voter turnout in elections for all levels of government is unacceptably low, and the State’s antiquated election laws are part of the problem. Reforms like early voting and extended registration deadlines will help New Yorkers make their voices heard." But if it's easier then we only have our apathy to blame! more ›

While the media back home is still examining the aftermath of the midterm elections, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was asked by the New Zealand media about 2012 and 2016. The one-time presidential candidate, who is on a tour of Asia-Pacific countries, said she ruled out a future run, "Oh yes, yes. I'm very pleased to be doing what I'm doing as secretary of state." more ›

In March of this year, we were first introduced to a little-known Buffalo real estate millionaire named Carl Paladino. He had just thrown his hat into the gubernatorial ring, and started his campaign by making a ridiculously hyperbolic comparison between Obamacare and 9/11. It was hard to imagine that this guy would last to the primary, let alone win the Republican nomination. Less than eight months later, we watched as he clutched a baseball bat in defeat, and vowed to return like a phoenix reborn. Carl, we hardly knew ye. more ›

In one of the many victories that helped the Republican gain power of the House of Representatives, former FBI agent Michael Grimm beat incumbent Michael McMahon (D) to win the seat that was ceded to the Democrats when after Republican Vito Fossella's DWI and love child meshugas. Grimm told his supporters last night, "If I was Nancy Pelosi, I'd be scared. But I'm not Nancy Pelosi. I am a Marine. I was FBI. And I am the new congressman for the 13th District." more ›

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli won another term as the person in charge of the state's billion-dollar pension fund, beating out Republican Harry Wilson, who was armed with endorsements from Mayor Bloomberg and the NY Times, NY Daily News, and NY Post, plus millions of his own money. Last night Wilson had initially refused to concede until all absentee ballots were counted, but this morning he threw in the towel. DiNapoli said of his win, "I’d like them to reflect on this campaign, and to really understand: you don’t always need a famous name, and you don’t always need to be rich to make it in politics." more ›

In a shocking twist unforeseen by M. Night Shyamalan and Carnac the Magnificent, Carl Paladino lost the gubernatorial election yesterday to Democratic opponent Andrew Cuomo. And he went out on a typically classy, non-violent note in his kooky concession speech (you can watch it below) last night: more ›

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo won the gubernatorial election, with 62% of the vote, and told his supporters that he would end the "dysfunction and degradation" of Albany, "The people have spoken loud and clear. What they are saying is they want reform. The mandate tonight is to clean up Albany." more ›

State Senator Eric Schneiderman won his bid to be New York's next "sheriff" by defeating Staten Island DA Dan Donovan in the Attorney General race. Schneiderman, who got 55% of the vote to Donovan's 44%, said, "This was a campaign of activism, and boy, did we show what activists can do!... I'm ready to go. I've stood up against powerful forces before and, Ladies and Gentleman, you may have noticed I'm hard to kill." That's total Sheriff-speak! more ›

Carl Paladino, the Buffalo developer-turned Tea Party favorite- turned- surprise Republican candidate for governor, was his usual self after voting in Buffalo this morning: He told reporters, "I'm going to win this thing today. People are going out and voting and speaking. People want change ... They want to tell their kids and their grandkids that there's a future in Western New York. They're going to vote, and we're going to win." more ›

Weeeellllll, look who gets a fancy "privacy sleeve" for his precious ballot! One of the top complaints about the new optical scan voting machines is that they're not private enough, and require you to put your unmentionable votes on display for all the world to see. But apparently there are "privacy sleeves" that you can use to cover your ballot as you transport it over to the scanning machine. Did you get one? Because we didn't, and we're wondering if it's only offered to posh people whose delicate votes need an extra dash of discretion. Here's what we're hearing from the lower orders, via Twitter: more ›

The big day has come at last: Americans have demanded change, and McDonald's has responded, by bringing back the beloved Clinton-era McRib. And if that doesn't get your lower intestine excited enough, today is also midterm Election Day. We're told the Republicans are coming to take the House—at this very moment they're climbing in your windows and snatching your people up. Information about how and where YOU can stop them or join them below: more ›

Possible future Governor of New York State Carl Paladino knows how to close a deal! While his rival Andrew Cuomo entered the election's home stretch by rallying his supporters and campaigning, Paladino knew all he had to do was kick back, crack open a cold one, and remind everyone that the only reason he's running for office is because his son tragically died in a car accident last year. Check and mate, Cuomo—and while you were out there breaking a sweat, Paladino had plenty of free time to celebrate Halloween in a Buffalo bar with a guy in blackface, thus proving that Paladino can't be racist, because he has a (temporarily) black friend. more ›

Kristin Davis, one of the many third party candidates hoping to be New York's next governor, has been running some TV ads lately, which the NY Post finds fishy. The paper's Albany bureau chief, Fred Dicker, writes, "Manhattan Madam Kristin Davis' broke campaign for governor has received a sudden infusion of tens of thousands of dollars to buy TV ads attacking Andrew Cuomo -- and she won't say where the money's coming from." And Cuomo's aides think the money is coming from... Carl Paladino. more ›

Trick! Last week, it was reported was that mama grizzly par excellence and potential 2012 candidate Sarah Palin was going to be in Toms River, NJ for a Tea Party Express event, but the new TLC star wasn't there. Still, there were 500 people heartily booed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The Asbury Park Press says, "Some people carried American or 'Don't Tread on Me' flags; others sported signs in favor of Republican candidates or criticizing the media. One participant dressed as the Statue of Liberty; another as George Washington." more ›

It's that time of year again, when costumed ghouls frantically go trick or treating door-to-door to ask for your vote. This Tuesday is Election Day, and the gubernatorial candidates are cramming in as much last minute campaigning as they could. Andrew Cuomo reached the 62nd county in his campaign tour in Saratoga County yesterday, deploying deadly political weapons such as "the thumbs up, the victory sign, the wave, the wink, the blown kiss," as the Times puts it. They viewed it as his victory lap, and he gave the enthusiastic packed audience an insight into his view of his foot-shooting opponent Carl Paladino: “I’ll tell you the simple truth. The more they talk, the better we look. You could not make this stuff up.” more ›

The Times has a new profile of Andrew Cuomo today, in which they harshly take him to task for his historical indecisiveness on gay marriage and his ties to special interests. Oh wait, it's actually about his car collection. Vroom! Could this be the Times' subtle way of confirming that Cuomo's sexual prowess is, indeed, legendary? All we know is, Cuomo really loves playing with his cars, whether he's using his "Jedi level" skills to tinker with the engines, or his 1968 Pontiac GTO convertible to romance Sandra Lee. Maybe Cuomo can get the NJ king of the turnpike ode, Bruce Springsteen, to play his inauguration. more ›

Former 2008 vice presidential candidate and possible/probable 2012 presidential candidate Sarah Palin is headed to the Garden State this weekend. According to the Asbury Park Press, she's "expected to make a stop here Halloween night with the Tea Party Express, according to Americans For Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group in Washington. Palin will be traveling with the Tea Party Express as it travels through New Jersey on its fourth nationwide tour. A stop in front of the township Town Hall on Washington Street is scheduled for 8 p.m. Sunday." more ›

While Carl Paladino and his special hard hat were busy not politicizing the Park 51 project in lower Manhattan, Andrew Cuomo was breaking out "a mix of urban and hip-hop music" in Brooklyn to welcome former President Bill Clinton, who gave his hearty endorsement to the gubernatorial candidate. “If you really want [Cuomo] to be effective, give him a whopping victory. Send him to Albany with a massive majority,” Bubba said at the City University of New York gymnasium. more ›

If there is one thing Carl isn't confused about, it's the (semi-uncontrollable) power of a good controversy. The fact that Paladino is kicking up dust around this issue less than a week before the gubernatorial election, in which he trails Andrew Cuomo by something between 20 and 32 points, is probably not a coincidence. He told reporters, "I can assure that on January 1, 2011, I will put in motion whatever legal powers I have to stop this project." After his speech, he was asked which legal powers a governor would have to stop the project, but declined to get more specific. Asked about the issue earlier this week, gubernatorial candidate Warren Redlich said, "Not an issue for the governor. I respect NYC's right to decide local matters." But we already know Paladino doesn't have much respect for a bunch of catatonic zombies. more ›

If this is a sudden trend, then we definitely want Rudy Giuliani to run in 2012 so his rival can trot out Donna Hanover at a debate: The Staten Island Advance reports that Rep. Michael McMahon (D) invited the ex-wife of his Republican challenger to Tuesday night's debate. And not only was Michael Grimm's ex Susan Kim there, so were her father and brothers! The Advance summed it up, "Call it a bit of campaign shenanigans unrivaled even in the rough and tumble that is a hallmark of Staten Island politics." more ›

Gubernatorial candidates Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino may differ on marijuana, gay pride parades and campaigning techniques, but there is one thing they have in common: not having women in their inner circles. Neither major party candidate uses women as key policy advisers, instead putting them in ceremonial organizational positions, and using their wives, mothers and daughters as tools for their campaigns,according to the Times. more ›

We're starting to think that gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino may be a bit confused as to the differences between a primary and an actual election. Asked about his chances for victory in the election next week, despite being down by 20 points in the latest poll, he told CBS in a radio interview: "I think they’re very good. You don’t pay attention to the newspapers or the polls. They’re obviously skewed...Two days before the primary, they had me down one-point. Two days later, I won by 27 points. So, you tell me what value these polls are." We're starting to feel bad for the guy! But then he got back to doing what he and Andy Rooney do best: complaining about everything. more ›

Nicole Paultre Bell will be outside the Municipal Building this morning, picking up endorsements from a number of unions and elected officials. The 26-year-old, whose fiance Sean Bell was killed in a fusillade of police gunfire hours before their wedding in 2006, is running for a City Council seat in Queens that was left vacant when Councilman Thomas White died in August. She told the NY Times last week, “In a million years, I never would have imagined this would have happened to my family. But I’m a strong woman trying to persevere — this was my calling." more ›

After less than three months on the job and a primary election that Mayor Bloomberg deemed a "royal screwup," the head of the Board of Elections was dismissed today by the Board's commissioners. George Gonzalez, who started at the $172,753 job in mid-August, is described as a "product of the Bronx Democratic party" by the Daily News. Some of the party leaders in the Bronx were reportedly pushing hard to keep him in the position, but Board President Julie Dent tells the Daily Politics, "The board has voted to terminate our executive director, George Gonzalez... He's been with the board for 22 years, and again, we appreciate it." more ›

So with less than two weeks left until the gubernatorial election, now might be the time for Carl Paladino to finally dip fully into that $10 million he promised to use on his campaign; according to Buffalo News, Cuomo has nearly $12 million left in his campaign piggy bank, compared with $131,000 for Paladino. He's spent about $5 million of his own money altogether on the election. But if he'd rather stick with what he knows, he could just keep insulting Manhattan. more ›

Although it's easy to get bogged down in everything Carl Paladino hates, there are plenty of things he loves: Newsday, cluttered desks, being "not intimidatable," and most of all, his dog Duke. Duke travels with Paladino wherever he goes, loves "The O'Reilly Factor", and has bitten other dogs on the campaign trail. Although Duke is generally referred to as a pit bull, the Times wasn't sure what breed he was exactly, so they went to find out. And Paladino's team FREAKED OUT. more ›

Yesterday, in light of Ed Koch's comments about historical precedents, we wondered if Carl Paladino would be granted his October wish to have another gubernatorial debate. It seems that Paladino sacrificed to the wrong idol though. Andrew Cuomo directly addressed the issue yesterday, and made his stance clear: "I'm not inclined to do any more debates, no." more ›

At least one person heartily agrees with future Hustler editor Carl Paladino that Monday night's gubernatorial debate was about as substantial as Anna Chapman's iPhone app. "It was a joke...That’s not a debate. I mean, the people who put that debate together had their heads screwed on wrong,” said wrinkly former Mayor Ed Koch at the State Capitol yesterday. more ›

Gubernatorial candidate Jimmy McMillan, of the RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH party, was on The Wendy Williams Show today. Besides noting his resemblance to another wise figure, Williams chatted with him about his rent, asking him, "I understand you’re a 64-year old retired postal worker who lives in Brooklyn and paying $800 a month in rent?" To which McMillan said, "I pay a little bit more than that, but I want to focus on the people - that’s why I tell them that story, it’s not about me it’s about the people." more ›