House Democrat says his name was included in Minnesota shooting suspect's notes
Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) said Monday that his name was one of at least 45 listed in evidence linked to the man accused of shooting two Minnesota Democratic lawmakers over the weekend.
Landsman said he was informed by Capitol Police on Sunday morning, at which point the suspect, Vance Boelter, was still at large. Landsman said he worked with the Cincinnati Police Department to arrange additional security for himself and his family.
Boelter was arrested on Sunday night after a two-day manhunt. He appeared in federal court earlier today on charges of stalking, murder and shooting. He is accused of killing Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband, Mark Hortman, as well as shooting state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife Yvette Hoffman.
Authorities said that Boelter planned his attacks carefully, conducting surveillance on his victims' homes and buying police-like equipment days in advance. Notebooks recovered from his home and car included the names of at least 45 state and federal officials, most of them Democrats.
Landsman is one of at least a half-dozen Democratic members of Congress on Boelter's alleged list, which included Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.), local news reported.
Scholten postponed a town hall in response to the news out of an 'abundance of caution.'
Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison were also listed.
Officials said on Monday that Boelter had visited the homes of two other Minnesota state lawmakers the night that he killed the Hortmans and shot the Hoffmans. They declined to release the names of the other two representatives.
'I'm extremely thankful to the Cincinnati Police Department for their quick assistance and to Capitol Police for their guidance,' Landsman said in a statement.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Time Magazine
24 minutes ago
- Time Magazine
Why Trump Has Had Enough of This Republican Congressman
'MAGA doesn't want him, doesn't know him, and doesn't respect him,' President Donald Trump wrote in a lengthy tirade against Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman from Kentucky who has criticized the President over a number of issues from war with Iran to the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill. 'He is a negative force who almost always Votes 'NO,' no matter how good something may be. He's a simple minded 'grandstander' who thinks it's good politics for Iran to have the highest level Nuclear weapon, while at the same time yelling 'DEATH TO AMERICA' at every chance they get,' Trump posted on Sunday. He added: 'MAGA should drop this pathetic LOSER, Tom Massie, like the plague!' Massie responded with a tongue-in-cheek post on X that the President 'declared so much War on me today it should require an Act of Congress.' Massie joined last week with a number of Democratic lawmakers to raise the alarm over potential U.S. military intervention in the Middle East without constitutionally-mandated congressional authorization. While Massie won't face a reelection contest until 2026, Trump has already unveiled a plan to challenge him and further enforce loyalty within the GOP ranks. 'The good news is that we will have a wonderful American Patriot running against him in the Republican Primary, and I'll be out in Kentucky campaigning really hard,' Trump added, without naming a prospective primary opponent. 'MAGA is not about lazy, grandstanding, nonproductive politicians, of which Thomas Massie is definitely one.' Massie, who is known for his outspoken libertarian views, has survived primary challenges before and told Axios, which reported on the effort to oust him, that 'any serious person considering running should spend money on an independent poll before letting swampy consultants take them for an embarrassing ride.' Who is Thomas Massie? Massie, 54, was born in West Virginia and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering from MIT in the 1990s before turning to local politics in 2010, when he ran and won the race for Judge Executive of Lewis County, Ky., amid the Tea Party wave. In 2012, after then-Rep. Geoff Davis announced his retirement in Kentucky's deep-red 4th congressional district, Massie, who described himself as a 'constitutional conservative,' won the Republican primary in a landslide. When Davis resigned early, Massie won the same-day special election and general election to succeed him, taking office two months earlier than his fellow freshmen representatives elected in 2012. One of Massie's first moves was to vote in January 2013 against party leader John Boehner for Speaker, opting instead to vote for fellow libertarian Justin Amash. (Boehner narrowly won the speakership but would go on to resign in 2015. Amash would go on to not run for reelection in 2020 and temporarily leave the Republican Party after earning Trump's wrath for consistent criticism of the President and supporting his impeachment.) Since then, Massie has made a name for himself by regularly voting against bills, often breaking with his caucus and sometimes siding with Democrats. In 2013, Politico dubbed him 'Mr. No.' In 2016, Massie said he would vote for Trump but do everything he could to 'rein him in' if he acts unconstitutionally. In 2017, Massie tried to explain how the same movement that propelled him into office could also propel someone like Trump, telling the Washington Examiner: 'All this time, I thought they were voting for libertarian Republicans. But after some soul searching I realized when they voted for Rand and Ron [Paul] and me in these primaries, they weren't voting for libertarian ideas—they were voting for the craziest son of a b----- in the race. And Donald Trump won best in class.' During Trump's first term, Massie was among a small group of Republicans who joined Democrats in trying to override Trump's veto of legislation that would block his national emergency declaration at the border in 2019. That same year, he was the sole Republican to vote against a resolution opposing the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement targeting Israel, and he was the sole no-vote across both parties on the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. In March 2020, Trump called Massie a 'third rate Grandstander' and urged Republicans to throw him out of the party after the congressman tried to force a roll-call vote on a $2 trillion pandemic relief package. The stunt earned rebuke from both sides of the aisle, with former Democratic presidential nominee and former Secretary of State John Kerry posting on social media: 'Breaking news: Congressman Massie has tested positive for being an a--hole. He must be quarantined to prevent the spread of his massive stupidity.' But in a U-turn, Trump endorsed Massie in 2022, calling him 'a first-rate Defender of the Constitution.' In 2022, Massie was the lone 'No' vote on a symbolic measure condemning antisemitism, a move he defended as a stance against 'censorship' but critics described as 'performative contrarianism.' Why Trump wants Massie out Massie was once again on Trump's bad side in 2023 when Trump shared posts on his Truth Social platform that called the congressman a 'wolf in sheep's clothing' and said he 'helped destroy the Tea Party and now he's trying to destroy MAGA.' That didn't stop Massie from endorsing Trump in the 2024 general election after previously backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Republican primary. But Trump finally had enough of Massie in March, when Massie voted against a continuing resolution to fund the federal government until September as Republicans worked to pass Trump's massive tax-and-spending legislative package, the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' (OBBB). The President took to Truth Social to appeal for a primary candidate to challenge Massie in 2026: 'HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him. He's just another GRANDSTANDER, who's too much trouble, and not worth the fight. He reminds me of Liz Chaney [sic] before her historic, record breaking fall (loss!). The people of Kentucky won't stand for it, just watch. DO I HAVE ANY TAKERS???' Massie brushed off the criticism, telling Politico: 'I had the Trump antibodies for a while — I needed a booster.' He said at the time that he had no intention to cave to Trump's pressure and believed the President's grudge would 'blow over.' When Massie continued to voice loud opposition to the OBBB, which is estimated to add trillions to the national debt, Trump said of Massie in May: 'He doesn't understand government' and 'should be voted out of office.' The OBBB ultimately passed in the House in May, when Massie was one of two Republicans in the lower chamber to vote against it. It has yet to pass in the Senate, especially after Massie found a sympathizer to his concerns about the bill's impact on the deficit in tech billionaire Elon Musk. Trump's latest missive against Massie came as Massie has become a leading voice against military intervention in Iran. Days after Israel launched an attack on Iran, Massie cosponsored a war powers resolution with Rep. Ro Khanna (D, Calif.) aimed at blocking the U.S. government from engaging in 'unauthorized hostilities.' After Trump revealed U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Massie posted on X: 'This is not Constitutional.' While some have categorized Massie's wing of the MAGA base when it comes to the war as 'isolationists,' Massie told CBS on Sunday that he rejects the label, preferring 'non-interventionists.' 'We are exhausted,' he said. 'We are tired from all of these wars.' How is Trump planning to beat Massie? Trump is dedicating campaign firepower to oust Massie. Axios reported that Trump's senior political advisers, Tony Fabrizio and Chris LaCivita, will launch a political action committee devoted to defeating Massie in the May 2026 primary. LaCivita said the PAC will spend 'whatever it takes' to defeat Massie, who according to the team's internal polling was lagging behind the President in terms of support. As of now, only one candidate, Niki Lee Ethington, has announced that she will vie for Massie's congressional seat. Other names being floated, per Axios, are state senator Aaron Reed and state representative Kimberly Moser. 'Massie's long-time opposition to President Trump's working family tax cuts—and really anything to do with President Trump—is coming to an end,' LaCivita said in a statement. 'Thomas 'Little Boy' Massie will be fired.'
Politico
42 minutes ago
- Politico
Beshear shows Florida Dems his winning blueprint
Good morning and welcome to Monday. When the Florida Democratic Party invited Kentucky Gov. ANDY BESHEAR to speak at its Leadership Blue gala on Saturday night, it seemed to be sending a loud-and-clear message: We'll have what he's having. What exactly is that? A winning streak they envy. Beshear has won statewide office as a Democrat three times in a row in Kentucky — a place where President DONALD TRUMP dominated in 2024 by 30 points — despite describing himself with terms like 'pro-choice' and 'pro-union.' Compare that to Florida, where Trump won by 13 points but Republicans have eclipsed Democrats in recent cycles to take over the Legislature, every statewide office and a big voter registration advantage. Democrats have been depressed about it, but they say they'll keep fighting. As it turns out, Beshear had a lot of thoughts about what Florida Democrats need to do. And it wasn't just because he enjoys vacationing in the Panhandle. He told Playbook that during the weekend, a lot of Democrats approached him to ask about his political secret sauce. 'I'm here as proof that when Democrats put people first and stand firm on our values, we can — we will — win tough elections,' he said onstage later. Beshear opened up about his blueprint, both onstage at the gala (held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood), in gaggles with journalists and one-on-one with Playbook. Here are the biggest takeaways: Focus on people's daily lives. Beshear said one of the big reasons Trump won the 2024 election was because he convinced voters that 'the vice president was distracted' while he was focused on issues like high prices and public safety. 'When people wake up in the morning, they're not thinking about the next election,' he said. 'They're thinking about their job and whether they make enough to support their family. They're thinking about the next doctor's appointment for themselves, their parents or their kids. They're thinking about the roads and bridges they drive each day, the school they drop their kids off at, and whether they feel safe in their community. The way that Democrats win is to own that lane.' Talk like a real person. Beshear gently reprimanded Democrats for using terms like justice-involved populations, substance use disorder and food insecurity — word he said he knew were intended to reduce stigma but that also ended up being an attempt at sanitizing difficult issues and taking the emotion out of them. He urged them instead to use the words addiction and hungry. 'I know all of this is important,' he said, 'but we don't change stigma by changing words. You change stigma by changing hearts.' Get dirt on your boots. 'What that means is that we're not just signing something in a rose garden,' Beshear said. 'We are out there making sure that people see the new factory, see the new growth, to see the impact that we're making in their daily lives, to get out in those communities again and again, because showing up shows the people we care.' Explain why. Democrats need to talk about their reasons for making decisions, Beshear said. For him, it's his Christian faith. So when he vetoed sweeping legislation that would have restricted bathrooms for transgender people and banned gender-affirming care for minors, he said it was because of his faith. 'My faith teaches me that every child is a child of God,' he told Kentuckians then, 'and I didn't want people picking on those kids.' The next day, he said, a man came toward him at an event and told him that even though he didn't agree with the veto, he understood the governor was doing what he thought was right. 'Whether people agreed with the decision or not, they knew what I was thinking,' he said. 'It creates the grace and the space to disagree and understand where someone is coming from.' Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ CAMPAIGN MODE MORE FROM LEADERSHIP BLUE … — Another quick note on Beshear: These events can also be viewed as an audition of sorts. Beshear is considering running for president, and (to close listeners) there were a couple 2028 Easter eggs in his speech. For instance, he included a dig at Vice President JD VANCE, widely viewed as the very early GOP frontrunner, as not actually being from Kentucky and said Democrats should 'make sure this is the last political job he ever has.' Then he capped off his speech with a resounding, 'Are you ready to elect a Democratic president in 2028?' — A key theme from the party: 'Several elected officials and party leaders agreed on one thing: they have a messaging problem, and President Donald Trump might help them solve it,' report Siena Duncan and Vivienne Serret of the Miami Herald. 'Democrats mentioned immigration, tariffs and potential cuts to healthcare as issues that have caused division in Florida districts that voted Republican. Deportations in South Florida were central to the discussion, with issues like revoking Temporary Protected Status, instating travel bans and targeting immigrants who have not committed crimes roiling Hispanic communities.' — Democratic Sen. CORY BOOKER of New Jersey got the crowd's attention. Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix writes: Booker's speech 'began with him calling for the house lights to be put on so he could see all 1,000-plus attendees, and then he waded into the audience, ultimately standing atop a table to address the crowd.' — At one point, Booker said, 'I miss Obama,' then joked that he was referring to the former first lady and not the former president. 'Michelle!' he yelled jokingly into the mic, 'If you married me, I'd be president right now!' — The Florida Phoenix also highlighted NIKKI FRIED's remarks, delivered unknowingly to her as Trump revealed the US had bombed Iran: 'Our message is shit,' she said. 'Our brand is broken. But quitting, hiding, waiting or whining will not fix it. What will? Showing up.' SPOTTED: Reps. SHEILA CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, JARED MOSKOWITZ, DARREN SOTO, DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ; gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY; Senate candidate JOSH WEIL; House Democratic leader FENTRICE DRISKELL; state Reps. ANNA ESKAMANI, MICHELE RAYNER, MARIE WOODSON, KEVIN CHAMBLISS, CHRISTINE HUNSCHOFSKY and ASHLEY GANTT; state Sens. SHEVRIN JONES, TRACIE DAVIS; Miami Dade County Mayor DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA; former Florida Democratic Party Chair TERRIE RIZZO. ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... ENVIRONMENTAL SPENDING REVERSAL — 'State legislators this year pivoted away from spending money to buy environmentally sensitive land and instead poured hundreds of millions into paying Florida land owners — including farm owners — from developing their property,' reports POLITICO's Gary Fineout. 'That was one of the biggest environmental spending highlights in this year's $115 billion state budget that also included a significant retreat from a decision made just a year ago to permanently dedicate money from the state's gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe to environmental programs.' WEATHER MANIPULATION BANNED — 'DeSantis signed Senate Bill 56, spearheaded by Sen. Ileana Garcia, R-Miami, which repeals current state law that allowed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to issue permits to people or groups seeking to change the weather,' reports Michaela Mulligan of the Tampa Bay Times. 'Weather modification is just as it sounds: It's the act of artificially influencing the weather. And in Florida, despite previous legislation, no institutions have ever sought a permit to change the weather, according to state environment officials.' — 'Judge grants partial delay in Carolina Amesty's federal case until next month,' reports Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics. — Florida Politics is out with its annual list of Tampa Bay's Most Powerful Politicians. PENINSULA AND BEYOND LOOK WHO'S BACK — DeSantis is keeping a familiar face on the University of West Florida trustee board by reappointing ADAM KISSEL, who was rejected by two state Senate committees over his stances on higher education. Kissel, who DeSantis reinstalled on the board Friday, is expected to be a key vote as part of a new majority picked by DeSantis to run UWF alongside Education Commissioner MANNY DIAZ JR., the school's interim president. A visiting fellow on higher education reform for The Heritage Foundation, Kissel was grilled by senators over his past writings, where he signaled support for privatizing universities and claimed military veterans are contributing to an 'overpopulation problem' facing colleges. Kissel, listed as a resident of Charleston, West Virginia, earlier this month suggested the University of Florida should 'consider a path to privatization' in response to state leaders rejecting former University of Michigan President Santa Ono as its prospective president. — Andrew Atterbury VOTING ON ELECTION CHANGES — Miami city commissioners will vote this week on whether to move its municipality elections to even years, which would help improve voter turnout, report Tess Riski and Jay Weaver of the Miami Herald. Should the election get moved, then it would cancel the 2025 election and allow certain officials, such as Miami Mayor FRANCIS SUAREZ, more time in their role regardless of term limits. DeSantis and state Attorney General JAMES UTHMEIER have warned Miami officials they don't have the right to move the elections without voters weighing in. — 'Fort Lauderdale eyeing own emergency reserve in case FEMA goes away,' reports Susannah Bryan of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP JUDICIARY SCRUTINY — 'A Florida state judge was lobbying for a seat on the federal bench. After he sided with the president in a defamation case, Donald Trump gave him one,' reports POLITICO's Hailey Fuchs. 'Ed Artau, now a nominee to be a district court judge in Florida, met with staff in the office of Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott to angle for the nomination less than two weeks after Trump's election last fall, according to a new Senate disclosure obtained by POLITICO. In the midst of his interviews, Artau was part of a panel of judges that ruled in Trump's favor in the president's case against members of the Pulitzer Prize Board.' DATELINE D.C. REACTIONS TO US BOMBING OF IRAN — Sens. RICK SCOTT and ASHLEY MOODY both issued supportive statements about the president's decision to launch strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday night, reports Drew Dixon of Florida Politics. Over in the House, many Democrats, including Rep. DARREN SOTO, said they were concerned that the president hadn't sought congressional approval before launching the strikes. Soto told Playbook he'd supported the bipartisan War Powers resolution that had been introduced in the House and wanted to look into whether Trump had exceeded his powers. 'It is a lot more offensive than normally the actions that are taken through the use of force,' he said. 'Often, it's done to help protect our allies — like Israel and the region and Kuwait and others. So there's a lot of questions to be asked. We also certainly don't want a nuclear Iran.' Rep. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (D-Fla.) had a more nuanced position, saying that Iran now needed to return to engaging in diplomatic negotiations. She said Trump should turn to Congress for any further action on Iran but that in her view the move on Saturday 'was a defensive one.' 'The window had opened with Israel striking their nuclear sites,' she said, 'and when diplomacy appeared to have not been effective, to me, it was essential to not allow that window to close, because this appeared to be the most significant opportunity to be able to prevent them from being able to achieve their nuclear goals.' TELLING HER PERSONAL STORY — Republican Rep. KAT CAMMACK opened up to The Wall Street Journal's Katy Stech Ferek recently to reveal that she had an ectopic pregnancy — a life-threatening condition — after Florida's six-week abortion limit was signed into law. She said the doctors questioned whether they were allowed to treat her by expelling the embryo, and she had to read them the law to persuade them to move ahead. Per WSJ: 'Cammack doesn't fault the Florida law for her experience. Instead, she accuses the left of scaring medical professionals with messaging that stressed that they could face criminal charges for violating the law. She said she feels those efforts gave medical staff reason to fear giving drugs even under legal circumstances.' — 'One Big, Beautiful Bill's changes for Obamacare could be ugly for Florida,' by Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix. ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN BIRTHDAY: Former state Rep. Joy Goff-Marcil.
Politico
42 minutes ago
- Politico
NYC mayoral primary: 1 day to go
Presented by With help from Cris Seda Chabrier NEW YORK MINUTE: An Emerson College poll out today shows Zohran Mamdani defeating Andrew Cuomo by nearly 4 points in the eighth round of voting — a rare public survey that doesn't demonstrate the former governor in the lead of a race he's as-yet dominated. The survey finds Cuomo ahead in the first round of ranked-choice voting 36.4 to Mamdani's 33.7, with undecided voters excluded, and the state assemblymember winning the final round 51.8 to 48.2. (That split is akin to a head-to-head poll commissioned by city comptroller candidate Justin Brannan earlier this month. Since then, 384,338 New Yorkers have headed to the polls to vote ahead of Tuesday's Democratic primary.) Emerson partnered with with PIX and The Hill to survey 800 voters; the poll has a 3.4 percent margin of error. It also shows city Comptroller Brad Lander's 20.1 percent favors Mamdani when Lander is eliminated in the seventh round. The comptroller has endorsed Mamdani and spent time and money opposing Cuomo. — Sally Goldenberg FINAL COUNTDOWN: If the stakes for the New York City mayoral election didn't feel high enough already, why don't we add the threat of war? The city should get ready for 'possible reprisal' from Iran, Cuomo said at a press conference Sunday. 'Who do you want in charge in that situation?' he asked. The ex-governor who handled Superstorm Sandy and COVID? Or Mamdani, an assemblymember, who 'has absolutely no qualification whatsoever to do the job.' Mamdani's Inexperience has been Cuomo's closing argument, POLITICO's Bill Mahoney reports. So this was more of the same, with a nuclear twist after President Donald Trump bombed Iran on Saturday. The two leading candidates' reactions were yet another example of their starkly different worldviews. Mamdani called it the result of a political establishment that would rather spend money on weapons than fighting poverty. Cuomo applauded the goal of targeting Iranian nuclear facilities — though both agreed Trump abused his authority by not getting Congressional approval, POLITICO's Joe Anuta reported. Speaking of Trump, Cuomo's reportedly under investigation by the DOJ after Republicans accused him of lying to a Congressional panel investigating his Covid-era policies. Cuomo denies it, and says it's politically motivated. But if he were to win, Cuomo would be preparing to lead while simultaneously defending himself in two lawsuits, pursuing a third and potentially responding to a federal investigation, POLITICO's Nick Reisman reports. That's just one of the reasons why this Mamdani-Cuomo matchup is remarkable — 'a 33-year-old socialist and a sex pest,' as POLITICO's Jonathan Martin writes — and the unlikely showdown has profound national implications, such as whether this will set up a Cuomo presidential run in 2028. Attorney General Letitia James could have been a contender, Martin noted. Instead, she spent Sunday night promoting the 'true freedom fighters' on the Working Families Party's mayoral slate: Mamdani, Brad Lander, Adrienne Adams and Zellnor Myrie. But it was only Mamdani who she compared to Barack Obama. 'They mispronounce his name. They say that he's inexperienced,' James said. 'Sort of reminds me of a candidate who ran on change.' More than 384,000 New York City residents voted early in-person, and another 46,000 absentee ballots have been mailed in already. Candidates were driving voters to the polls all weekend. Cuomo rode in the back of a flatbed truck in Bensonhurst. Mamdani walked the length of Manhattan, shaking hands and taking selfies over more than 13 miles, POLITICO reported. Lander, who's trailing both Cuomo and Mamdani in polls, attacked, bringing together some of Cuomo's biggest critics for a closing argument press conference on the Upper West Side and calling him a 'sociopath' who can't take accountability for his actions. Cuomo attacked too, brushing off Lander as irrelevant, while holding a press conference harping on Mamdani's 'defund the police' tweets from 2020 and accusing the democratic socialist of 'hate speech.' Mamdani's decade-plus of pro-Palestinian advocacy against Israel is another one of Cuomo's closing arguments against him, while some supporters say they're motivated by his principled stance. POLITICO's Jason Beeferman reported Sunday on what Mamdani has actually said about Israel. Voting closes at 9 p.m. tomorrow, but the mayoral race is far from over. Stay tuned. — Jeff Coltin and Amira McKee HAPPY MONDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. WHERE'S KATHY? In Erie County, Niagara County, Monroe County, Onondaga County, and New York City, making an energy announcement at Niagara Power Project. WHERE'S ERIC? In New York City, making a public safety-related announcement with District Attorney Clark. QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'We gotta talk on Wednesday!' — Mayoral candidate Scott Stringer, responding to journalist Ross Barkan's X post about how Rep. Dan Goldman could be vulnerable to a primary challenge — suggesting the former city comptroller is thinking about another campaign. ABOVE THE FOLD LANDLORDS FOR ADAMS: The landlords love Eric Adams. At least that was the takeaway from a town hall the mayor did with property owners Friday evening in Brooklyn. The event in Red Hook, organized by the firm H.L. Dynasty, was attended by landlords from around the city, and some of them have little love for the former governor who their lobby is backing in the Democratic mayoral primary. 'This all started about six years ago when there was a governor by the name of Andrew Cuomo who declared war on landlords,' said Anthony Carollo, who owns a property management firm. The remark won considerable applause from the crowd. Carollo went on. 'We just want you to be advocating for us,' he continued, saying to Adams. 'We want you to express our anger to Andrew that he did this to us, and now he wants to come back and do it to us again. We cannot accept that.' Cuomo signed a package of tenant-friendly laws in 2019 that dramatically limited owners' ability to raise rents in rent-regulated housing. He recently expressed regret over elements of that package — particularly measures that restricted rent hikes after building and apartment improvements, known as MCIs and IAIs. 'This was a bad decision and it was a lack of understanding of the full ecosystem,' Adams said on those measures. There remains some discontent in the industry over Cuomo's role in the 2019 reforms, but major developers have nonetheless donated big sums to a Cuomo-aligned super PAC. And the New York Apartment Association, a landlord group, announced plans earlier this month to spend $2.5 million to boost Cuomo's campaign. Adams has often empathized with his fellow small landlords and once proclaimed, 'I am real estate.' The mayor spent some two hours Friday listening to landlords vent about housing court delays, the 2019 rent reforms, property taxes and city fines. He was joined by officials from a raft of city agencies, including the housing, buildings and finance departments. One landlord came wearing a t-shirt that read, 'Stuck with 8-years squatter.' Adams offered his sympathies to the man, saying, 'Our squatter laws are outrageous.' The mayor left the group with a call to action of sorts, encouraging the owners to 'be organized.' 'You are hard-working people who took a huge leap by purchasing those small properties because you believe that this is the American dream. People have turned that dream into a nightmare,' Adams said. 'We don't have to surrender, you don't have to give up.' — Janaki Chadha CITY HALL: THE LATEST DREAM DONORS: The campaign against ranking Cuomo for mayor — and supporting Adams in general — has been quietly playing out for months in New York City. A POLITICO analysis of campaign finance data shows progressive voters have been hedging their bets since the early days of the Democratic mayoral primary by donating to multiple left-leaning candidates. Their hope? Deny the moderate frontrunner Cuomo the Democratic primary and avoid the MAGA-curious incumbent Adams, who dropped out of the contest to run in the general election as an independent. POLITICO pored over donations to top contenders in the primary, including contributions before the mayor exited the race, through early-June. The findings show nearly 3,000 New Yorkers gave to candidates like City Comptroller Brad Lander, Mamdani — a assemblymember — state Sen. Zellnor Myrie and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams — but not to Cuomo or Eric Adams. The contribution pattern is reminiscent of a strategy for ranked-choice voting that was initially popularized by the 'Don't Rank Eric or Andrew for Mayor' or DREAM campaign. The neighborhoods with the highest concentrations of multi-donors — progressive and vote-rich enclaves in Brooklyn and Manhattan — will play a deciding role in the race. Read more about mayoral race multi-donors from Cris Seda Chabrier and Joe Anuta. SAVE THE PRIMARIES: The United Federation of Teachers and New York Communities for Change, along with other unions and left-leaning interest groups, are opposing major changes to the city's primary elections that Mayor Adams' Charter Revision Commission is considering. First in Playbook, a letter signed by 13 unions and 29 advocacy groups opposes a switch to an open primary where independent voters can take part as well, not just those registered with a party. The groups also oppose a switch to a non-partisan 'jungle' primary, where the candidates with the most votes advance to the general, even if they're both Democrats. The commission confirmed in its April preliminary report it was looking at putting such changes on the ballot this November, arguing that they would boost turnout. The unions and groups that signed onto the letter disagree, saying that switching to non-partisan primaries didn't help turnout in California — and that the real goal is to reduce unions' influence in elections. 'Wealthy people already have most of the power in our society. The Party primary is one of the few places where working-class, middle-class and poor people can even the score even a little bit,' the letter reads. The commission hasn't finalized which proposals it would advance to put on the ballot. A spokesperson said they'll review the letter. — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — Cuomo's bullying reputation powered him through public life and is fueling his potential return to elected office. (POLITICO Magazine) — Cuomo enlisted Bill Clinton as part of a late-stage bid to fend off Mamdani. (The New York Times) — Eric Adams is hosting a kickoff event for his reelection campaign this coming week. (Daily News) NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY COST OF DOING BUSINESS: Democratic state lawmakers — nursing their wounds from a 2024 election that resulted in Donald Trump returning to the presidency — insisted they wanted to address affordability when they began the year. A state budget that provided a modest tax cut for middle-income earners and rebate checks — ostensibly to help New Yorkers address inflationary costs — was approved. Business groups can claim wins too, including a budget provision that will pay down more than $6 billion in unemployment insurance debt and the approval of tax credits meant to spur New York City business expansion. Still, Democrats acknowledge there's more to be done. 'There were some meaningful steps forward, especially on universal school meals, but there were missed opportunities,' Democratic state Sen. James Skoufis told Playbook. 'The biggest cost of living pressures remain housing, utilities and property taxes — and these are issues that continue to require major overhaul.' Convincing voters that Democrats — even in deep blue New York — care about the cost of living will be crucial for the party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Policies approved in Albany, like the controversial cashless bail law, often become factors in House races. And New York is home to several battleground seats that could determine control of the chamber. Republicans won't surrender the affordability issue, though. GOP lawmakers blasted environmental bills like curtailing natural gas hookups in new construction, warning the legislation would raise costs. 'Instead of addressing the real challenges facing our communities like affordability, crumbling rural infrastructure and an exodus of families and businesses, Albany Democrats pushed forward with the same extreme agenda that created this mess in the first place,' GOP Assemblymember Andrea Bailey said. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — Just in time for a hot primary day, Hochul approved a law allowing voters to receive water while waiting in line. (NY1) — Several environmental bills failed to get a vote in the state Assembly, disappointing supporters. (Gothamist) — Efforts to revitalize downtown Albany are focusing on expanding the city's convention center. (Times Union) KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION BIG-TENT REACTION TO IRAN: House Democrats' responses to the Trump administration's strikes on Iran ran the gamut over the weekend, and two Bronx Democrats had starkly opposing takes. Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres lauded the raid as necessary to eliminate a threat. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez saw it as grounds for Trump's impeachment. 'The world can achieve peace in the Middle East, or it can accept a rogue nuclear weapons program — but it cannot have both,' Torres posted on X. 'The decisive destruction of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant prevents the dangerous spread of nuclear weapons in the world's most combustible region.' Torres was applauded by Republicans, including Rep. Mike Lawler. (Both are weighing bids for governor.) Torres also said later that he supports reasserting Congress' war powers, but added that both Democratic and Republican presidents have sparked military conflict without congressional approval. The progressive Ocasio-Cortez was on the other end of the spectrum. 'The President's disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers,' she posted on X. 'He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.' — Emily Ngo More from Congress: — Top Democrats on Capitol Hill, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, say they weren't briefed in advance of the U.S. attack on Iran on Saturday. (Axios) — Among the 18 Democrats who helped advance the GENIUS Act crypto bill, none played a more central role than Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. (Punchbowl News) — Reps. Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota press their GOP colleagues to preserve clean energy credits. (Newsday) NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil was released from immigration detention and welcomed home by supporters including Ocasio-Cortez. (POLITICO) — Food banks are bracing for the fallout from federal aid cuts. (New York Times) — A $2.3 billion deal will upgrade the Long Island Rail Road's train cars. (Newsday) SOCIAL DATA MEDIAWATCH: Mayor Adams should lift his press conference ban on Daily News reporter Chris Sommerfeldt, Daily News columnist Leonard Greene writes. SPOTTED at a rooftop party Thursday night in honor of Sam Tanenhaus' new biography of William F Buckley, Jr., 'Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America' ($29.79), held by Matthew Sitman and Katy Roberts: Beverly Gage, David Klion, Pamela Paul, Jennifer Szalai, Kathy Bonomi, Ian Ward, David Oshinsky, Alex Star, Andrew Marantz, Samuel Adler-Bell, Jennifer Schuessler, Barry Gewen, David Margolick, Nina Burleigh, Jacob Heilbrunn, John Ganz and John Williams. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) … Adam Boehler … Brian Pomper … Nick Weinstein … Patrick Morris … Ryan Rogers Woodbury … Caitlin Dorman … Josh Lauder … Robert Lezama … (WAS SUNDAY): AP's Jill Colvin … Carson Daly … Michael Falcone … Brit Hume … Martin Lipton ... Alisa Doctoroff … … (WAS SATURDAY): Axios' Mike Allen … Greyson Brooks, deputy campaign manager for Zellnor Myrie … Mark Levine aide Jack Lobel … NYT's Elizabeth Williamson and Elizabeth Dias … Laura Meckler … Sam Nunberg … Forbes' Emma Whitford … Max Clarke … Chloe Frelinghuysen … Zack Richner … Daniel Wagner … George Jahn … Mason Reynolds … Charles L. Glazer … (WAS FRIDAY): Bob Garfield ... Gregg Birnbaum ... Josh Raffel Missed Friday's New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here.
