The impact of public funding on legislative primaries

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Of the 90 candidates who ran in the state legislative primary last week, 75 opted for the state’s new public campaign financing system.

Blair Horner, executive director of the New York Public Interest Research Group, said that, as usual, incumbents have largely succeeded in protecting their lines.

“A lot of candidates took part, but did the new system radically change the outcome? I think the answer is probably no,” Horner said.

NYPIRG has been a vocal advocate of the new system, which was meant to limit the influence of big donors and encourage new candidates to run. Horner said that, at least for the latter, it appears to be a success.

“The power holders have faced serious challenges that might or might not have occurred without public funding,” he said.

The executive director said the Democratic primary for the 109th Assembly District is one of the races where the impact seems most evident. With no incumbent, all six candidates opted into the system, and winner Gabriella Romero was one of the first candidates in the state to reach the matching funds cap for the primary.

“I think that’s where you might see the most benefit as well, where there’s no incumbent in the race,” Horner said.

Romero said quickly maximizing the system was effective for the campaign.

“And that was really a great strategy and a useful strategy to maximize the impact of this program and really show that people who don’t come from extreme wealth or don’t have very powerful connections can still be successful in a campaign and win,” she said.

Horner said the public should have a better sense of the system’s impact in November, with more candidates and opponents in the mix and greater voter turnout.

“When it comes to campaign finance, thanks to the United States Supreme Court, there is no silver bullet to make the system work, but there are things you can do to make the system work better and this is one of them,” he said.

Horner said he also thinks it’s important for lawmakers to hold public hearings on public campaign financing after all elections are over to examine what’s working and what’s not.