By Bradley Honan and Elisabeth Zeche | Jan 23, 2025 | Original Article
While serving nearly a decade in the state Legislature, former state Sen. Seymour Lachman, who wrote about the concentration of political power in Albany in his book “Three Men in a Room,” observed that New York’s democratic institutions were anything but democratic. The Empire State, Lachman argued, was effectively run by three political leaders: the governor, the Assembly speaker, and the state Senate majority leader, a reality that Lachman wrote had “no peer in the United States Congress nor in many American statehouses.”
Lachman’s recent passing offers a valuable moment to reflect on his central thesis. Since he published his book in 2006, the pendulum has significantly swung towards empowering regular people, who hold increasingly greater sway with elected officials. Today, it is less about “three men in a room” and increasingly about “three dozen voters attending a public hearing on Zoom” — organized and activated constituents speaking up to their elected officials about proposed public policy.
This shift in the state’s political power has come about for several reasons.
1.) In 2018, the surprise upset primary election of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Congress started elected officials looking over their shoulders for signs of political uprising brewing in their backyard over their stances or votes, which could send them into early retirement. As political campaign consultants, we can attest to the fact that today’s elected officials are far more focused on how issues are playing locally than ever before.
2.) Technology has democratized political and policy-making information. Average voters can today access a draft and amended bill, testify at a public hearing and join a coalition, all without a single trip to Albany. News outlets offer average citizens a way to follow state legislative affairs at a pretty intimate level.
Technology has also democratized who has a voice. Social media gives average people a megaphone and soapbox, where they can identify and organize like-minded people. During Lachman’s time in the state Legislature, a single vocal constituent could be — and frequently was — ignored. No longer. Today’s concerned constituents can speak to the masses if they feel an elected official hasn’t listened to them sufficiently.
3.) Legislative power has become decentralized. The old axiom that freshman members should be seen, not heard, is long out of fashion. Indeed, 17,751 bills were introduced in Albany in the last two sessions, suggesting that legislative leaders, far from having an iron grip, are content to see bills introduced, providing they generate sufficient public support.
4.) Campaign finance reform has taken political power away from institutional sources of campaign money. An analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice found the state’s public finance system is having an impact: Candidates rely more heavily on low-dollar donors than previously. The person who can fill their living room with potential donors is as important to candidates today as is a single person who can write a big check.
5.) Institutional players have less impact. As an example, union members no longer vote in lockstep with their leadership. The 2024 presidential election demonstrated the divide between the leadership of unions – most of whom backed Kamala Harris – and how their members voted. Post-election exit polling found that nearly half of voters (45%) who were members of a union or had a family member who belonged to one supported Donald Trump.
Make no mistake: The governor and legislative leaders still wield enormous power and influence, but the will of the people is undoubtedly growing in importance. Today and tomorrow’s political and public policy battles in Albany will be dominated by those who are most effectively able to harness and channel the power and passion of engaged citizens.
Bradley Honan and Elisabeth Zeche are partners at the Democratic polling and data analytics firm Honan Strategy Group.
Times Union Op Ed: Regular people eclipsing ‘three men in a room’ governance
By Bradley Honan and Elisabeth Zeche | Jan 23, 2025 | Original Article
While serving nearly a decade in the state Legislature, former state Sen. Seymour Lachman, who wrote about the concentration of political power in Albany in his book “Three Men in a Room,” observed that New York’s democratic institutions were anything but democratic. The Empire State, Lachman argued, was effectively run by three political leaders: the governor, the Assembly speaker, and the state Senate majority leader, a reality that Lachman wrote had “no peer in the United States Congress nor in many American statehouses.”
Lachman’s recent passing offers a valuable moment to reflect on his central thesis. Since he published his book in 2006, the pendulum has significantly swung towards empowering regular people, who hold increasingly greater sway with elected officials. Today, it is less about “three men in a room” and increasingly about “three dozen voters attending a public hearing on Zoom” — organized and activated constituents speaking up to their elected officials about proposed public policy.
This shift in the state’s political power has come about for several reasons.
1.) In 2018, the surprise upset primary election of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Congress started elected officials looking over their shoulders for signs of political uprising brewing in their backyard over their stances or votes, which could send them into early retirement. As political campaign consultants, we can attest to the fact that today’s elected officials are far more focused on how issues are playing locally than ever before.
2.) Technology has democratized political and policy-making information. Average voters can today access a draft and amended bill, testify at a public hearing and join a coalition, all without a single trip to Albany. News outlets offer average citizens a way to follow state legislative affairs at a pretty intimate level.
Technology has also democratized who has a voice. Social media gives average people a megaphone and soapbox, where they can identify and organize like-minded people. During Lachman’s time in the state Legislature, a single vocal constituent could be — and frequently was — ignored. No longer. Today’s concerned constituents can speak to the masses if they feel an elected official hasn’t listened to them sufficiently.
3.) Legislative power has become decentralized. The old axiom that freshman members should be seen, not heard, is long out of fashion. Indeed, 17,751 bills were introduced in Albany in the last two sessions, suggesting that legislative leaders, far from having an iron grip, are content to see bills introduced, providing they generate sufficient public support.
4.) Campaign finance reform has taken political power away from institutional sources of campaign money. An analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice found the state’s public finance system is having an impact: Candidates rely more heavily on low-dollar donors than previously. The person who can fill their living room with potential donors is as important to candidates today as is a single person who can write a big check.
5.) Institutional players have less impact. As an example, union members no longer vote in lockstep with their leadership. The 2024 presidential election demonstrated the divide between the leadership of unions – most of whom backed Kamala Harris – and how their members voted. Post-election exit polling found that nearly half of voters (45%) who were members of a union or had a family member who belonged to one supported Donald Trump.
Make no mistake: The governor and legislative leaders still wield enormous power and influence, but the will of the people is undoubtedly growing in importance. Today and tomorrow’s political and public policy battles in Albany will be dominated by those who are most effectively able to harness and channel the power and passion of engaged citizens.
Bradley Honan and Elisabeth Zeche are partners at the Democratic polling and data analytics firm Honan Strategy Group.
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