Good afternoon — It’s Friday and early voting eve.
Did someone forward you this email? Sign up here to receive this weekday newsletter.
Hello! It’s Tim, filling in for Dan, who is out all week for some much-needed R&R.
In today’s CapCon, the state is spending $700,000 to install handrails on the Senate and Assembly staircases. I spoke to an Albany historian who has one big worry.
Then, a state appellate court ruled against a New York City bridal shop, saying the business owner’s First Amendment rights don’t mean she can refuse to serve same-sex couples.
And, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani are campaigning together for the first time. Hochul’s Republican challenger thinks that’s a good thing for his campaign.
Later, to mark National Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Month, lawmakers are rallying behind a bill that would ban the retail sale of nitrous oxide in most cases.
Finally, a new bill was introduced to clamp down on anticompetitive veterinary clinic transactions.
Names in today’s CapCon: Dominique Galbraith, Jack McEneny, Leopold Eidlitz, Kathy Hochul, Zohran Mamdani, Bruce Blakeman, John T. McDonald III, Matthew Simpson, Christopher J. Ryan, Haleh Brown, Nima Pazooki
Try CapCon free for 7 days
We're not like other outlets. Get full access to Capitol Confidential New York — the kind of coverage of New York government and politics you won't get anywhere else.
Try nowWhat's in the full version:
- News on the 2026 elections for governor, Congress and the state Legislature
- Updates on Gov. Kathy Hochul and other top state officials
- What's happening in New York's courts, including cases involving the state
- New bills introduced during and outside the legislative session
- And content that other news outlets miss or ignore
