State Senator Gustavo Rivera (photo: NYS Senate Media Services)

Bronx State Senator Gustavo Rivera is no stranger to contentious campaigns, but his bid this year for a seventh term has been exceptionally so.

Rivera, a hero of New York’s progressive left known for his independence and outspokenness, recently survived a tough Democratic primary race by a narrow margin — just 506 votes. The particularly competitive and at times nasty primary was in part the result of a messy redistricting process, but also showed both interest among many local political figures in ousting Rivera and the

Kristen Gonzalez (photo: Gonzalez campaign)

September 7, 2022 - Max Politics Podcast: Kristen Gonzalez is Likely Heading to the New York State Senate

Kristen Gonzalez, a democratic socialist, won her August Democratic primary election for a new State Senate seat (district 59) covering parts of western Queens and Brooklyn as well as a slice of the East Side of Manhattan, and is all but certain to win the general election and become a State Senator in January. She joined the show to discuss her winning campaign, policy priorities, and more.

Listen to the conversation and

Rep. Lee Zeldin on the campaign trail (photo: @leezeldin)

As Republican U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin runs to become New York Governor, he has made the core planks of his general election campaign crime and cost of living. Meanwhile, he has sought to further energize his base to “fire” Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul over a lack of public safety, high taxes, her role as Lieutenant Governor, and more.

But as the fall general election approaches, Zeldin has continued to take votes in Congress that signify

Senator Gustavo Rivera, right, with Rep. Adriano Espaillat (photo: Rivera campaign website)

September 2, 2022 - Max Politics Podcast: State Senator Gustavo Rivera on Surviving a Major Primary Challenge

State Senator Gustavo Rivera of the Bronx joined the show to discuss winning his August 2022 Democratic primary despite a well-organized, well-funded attempt to unseat him.

Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think, on Twitter @TweetBenMax. You can listen to the show through the embedded

The Working Families Party in Queens (photo: @NYWFP)

The results of the August party primary elections for the U.S. House of Representatives and State Senate were bittersweet for the New York Working Families Party, the progressive third party that seeks to push Democrats to the left. The WFP is one of the most prominent actors in the intra-party battle Democrats continue to wage in New York and beyond.

Several WFP-backed Democratic incumbents who faced competitive challenges emerged victorious in their primary races. Other endorsed candidates won primaries for open seats, likely adding to the ranks

Voters at the polls (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

The August primary election for congressional and State Senate races in New York saw significantly low voter turnout, barely topping single digits in many districts across the state. It was the predictable outcome of an unprecedented election that resulted from a tumultuous redistricting process that unfolded this year, all adding to New York’s voter turnout crisis. Despite many competitive races, several of which were narrowly decided, New Yorkers again showed little enthusiasm to cast their ballots.

The party primaries,

Rep. Lee Zeldin on the campaign trail (photo: @leezeldin)

U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican nominee for New York Governor in this year’s election, is focusing his campaign on public safety, the economy, and cost of living.

Representing the 1st Congressional District on Long Island, Zeldin is a conservative with close ties to former President Donald Trump trying to accomplish a feat no New York Republican has over the last 20 years: win a statewide election.

Zeldin’s campaign often

At the polls (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

August 25, 2022 - Max Politics Podcast: 2022 Congressional Primaries and The New York Times Editorial Board, with Mara Gay

Mara Gay of The New York Times Editorial Board joined the show to discuss the outcomes of the 2022 New York congressional primaries and the Board's endorsements -- Rep. Jerry Nadler in NY-12; Daniel Goldman in NY-10; and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney in NY-17, all victorious -- as well as related themes.

Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think, on Twitter ...

At the voting booth (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

August 25, 2022 - Max Politics Podcast: Breaking Down the 2022 State Senate Primary Results, with Jeff Coltin

Jeff Coltin of City and State New York joined the show to discuss the outcomes of the 2022 New York State Senate primaries, particularly in New York City, and various related themes.

Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think, on Twitter @TweetBenMax. You can listen to the show through the embedded audio below or download the

(l-r) Jerry Nadler, Dan Goldman, Kristen Gonzalez (top) 
Gustavo Rivera, Robert Jackson, Andrew Gounardes

New York’s second primary election of the year has concluded, determining the general election nominees for the House of Representatives and State Senate. There were several competitive races, mostly among Democrats, across the city and state and while winners have been declared in most of them, a few are too close to call and could be decided in the coming days once thousands of absentee ballots are tallied.

This was the first-ever primary held in August, a result of a chaotic redistricting process

(l-r) Jerry Nadler, Carolyn Maloney, Suraj Patel

Once allies in Congress, Representatives Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney have become fierce competitors as they both run in the new 12th Congressional District of New York in this month’s Democratic primary. The two long-time House members were each first elected to Congress in 1992, but a chaotic redistricting process led to both their bases being drawn into the same new district, which includes much of both the East Side and West Side of Manhattan from about 18th Street to the north end of Central

Getting out to vote (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayor's Office)

New York's August party primary elections for seats in the State Senate and U.S. House of Representatives is fast-approaching, with primary day Tuesday, August 23. There are several high-profile races, including the highly-competitive Democratic primaries in the new 10th and 12th congressional districts. There are other congressional races and many competitive State Senate primaries.

Dr. Christina Greer, political science professor at Fordham University and co-host of FAQ NYC, and Sally Goldenberg, City Hall bureau chief for

Yuh-Line Niou with WFP volunteers campaigning in BK (photo: @bkswjennie)

The New York Working Families Party is no stranger to big fights and it is facing one of its most intense campaign battles in this month’s Democratic primary in the new 10th Congressional District of New York. With six prominent candidates and more than a dozen Democrats on the ballot, the Working Families Party’s influence and organizing power is being put to the test as it hopes to propel its endorsee, Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou, to victory.

The WFP experienced several defeats and few victories in the June

(l-r) Jerry Nadler, Carolyn Maloney, Suraj Patel, Yuh-Line Niou, Jo Anne Simon (top)
Dan Goldman, Carlina Rivera, Elizabeth Holtzman, Mondaire Jones

Early voting for the August 23 party primary elections begins on Saturday, August 13, with competitive races in many of New York’s now-26 districts in the U.S. House of Representatives. After a chaotic redistricting process that significantly changed the state’s political map, these congressional races are unfolding ahead of the general election that will determine which major party controls the House and Senate. Democrats currently

Elizabeth Holtzman (photo: Liz Holtzman for Congress)

Former Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman, the first and only woman ever elected Brooklyn District Attorney and New York City Comptroller, has ended her decades-long hiatus from political campaigns torun for Congress in the crowded field for the new 10th district.

“I said to myself, ‘I'm not a

(l-r) State Senators Gustavo Rivera, Robert Jackson, Andrew Gounardes, Kevin Parker

Early voting for the August 23 primary begins on Saturday, August 13, and there are several competitive races taking place for New York State Senate, with new district maps in place following the decennial redistricting process.

Democrats currently control the 63-member State Senate, with a 42-20 majority (there is

Yuh-Line Niou, center, with campaign volunteers (photo: @teamniouyork)

Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou, who has represented the 65nd Assembly District in Lower Manhattan since 2017, is running for Congress in the new 10th Congressional District of New York.

Niou, a favorite of many in the progressive left, is part of a crowded race of roughly a dozen Democratic candidates hoping to win the new congressional seat, which spans a set of diverse neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. Rep. Jerry Nadler, who represents the current

Rep. Carolyn Maloney joins other top elected officials to outline plans for protecting abortion rights (photo: Don Pollard/Governor’s Office)

August 8, 2022 - Max Politics Podcast: Rep. Carolyn Maloney on Her Campaign for Congress in the New NY-12

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat representing the current 12th Congressional District of New York, joined the show to discuss her campaign in the August primary for the new 12th Congressional District, a race that also includes Rep. Jerry Nadler and attorney Suraj Patel.

Listen to the conversation and let us know

Elizabeth Holtzman (photo: Holtzman campaign)

Max Politics Podcast: Elizabeth Holtzman Runs for Congress in the New NY-10

Recorded July 26, 2022

Listen to the audio here, or at Max Politics wherever you get podcasts.

Democratic primary day: August 23, 2022

Transcript: Dan Goldman NY-10 Max Politics Interview

Voters on the move (photo: Edwin J. Torres/Mayoral Photo Office)

There are less than three weeks until primary day, August 23, and the deadline for voters to request an absentee ballot is Monday, August 8. In New York’s 10th and 12th congressional districts, where there are heated Democratic primary contests underway, absentee ballots may play a particularly significant role under the peculiar circumstances of the election.

“Absentee ballot organizing is likely to be the single most important factor in determining the winner of these races,” Neal Kwatra, founder of Metropolitan Public

Carlina Rivera (photo: John McCarten/City Council)

Max Politics Podcast: Carlina Rivera Runs for Congress in the New NY-10

Recorded June 1, 2022

Listen to the audio here, or at Max Politics wherever you get podcasts.

Democratic primary day: August 23, 2022

District: Lower Manhattan & parts of Brooklyn (...

Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou (photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Max Politics Podcast: Yuh-Line Niou Runs for Congress in the New NY-10

Recorded July 19, 2022

Listen to the audio here, or at Max Politics wherever you get podcasts.

Democratic primary day: August 23, 2022

District: Lower Manhattan & parts of Brooklyn (...

Jo Anne Simon at an abortion rights rally

Max Politics Podcast: Jo Anne Simon Runs for Congress in the New NY-10

Recorded July 12, 2022

Listen to the audio here, or at Max Politics wherever you get podcasts.

Democratic primary day: August 23, 2022

District: Lower Manhattan & parts of Brooklyn (...

Suraj Patel (photo: Patel campaign)

July 27, 2022 - Max Politics Podcast: Suraj Patel on Running for Congress in the New NY-12