As petitioning enters its pre-Commissioners Hearing (April 28-29, 2026) stage, I wondered how political friends and enemies, trust and distrust, games and tricks are being played. Is there a win-win solution?
A Competition Proposal: If the establishment wants to avoid a primary, have the competing candidates (insurgent or establishment) who collected the least valid signatures file a Declination. The Committee to Fill Vacancies would then Substitute in assigning those signatures giving the winning candidate a stronger chance against the Democrats!
During this 2026 cycle, Central Queens Republican Club petitioned for 10 candidates in Queens and Brooklyn. Three did not have enough signatures to survive a challenge so three declinations were filed giving signatures collected to the stronger candidate. Primary and petition challenge for those three candidates were avoided.
Danniel Maio’s agreement proposal would encourage a friendlier and more effective petitioning especially among candidates having difficulty crossing the minimum signature threshold allowing anyone who wants to run, run at a level playing field.