We’re continuing to speak with candidates in this year’s competitive race for state comptroller. Raj Goyle is one of three Democrats challenging incumbent state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli for their party’s nomination in that race. He wants to use the power of the comptroller’s office to fight the federal government’s deportation efforts by changing how the state’s public pension fund is invested. He also wants to leverage the office to address the state’s energy affordability crisis.

Goyle spoke with us about that, his background and politics in New York.

Who you’re hearing:

• Dan Clark (social links)
• Raj Goyle

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Gov. Kathy Hochul released her executive budget proposal and outlined her agenda for the year last month. But she’s also up for reelection this year, raising the stakes for what she’s able to accomplish between now and November.

We sat down with Hochul at the Hearst Media Center to talk about her future in politics, high energy bills, immigration policy and more in a wide-ranging conversation.

Who you’re hearing:

• Dan Clark (social links)
• Gov. Kathy Hochul

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Voters will decide this year if incumbent state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli serves another term or hands off his job to someone else.

He’s facing his first serious primary challenge since he first became comptroller in 2007 from two Democrats. One of them is Drew Warshaw, who most recently helped lead a national housing nonprofit.Warshaw wants to use the state’s pension fund for public workers for new priorities and change how the money that goes into it is invested. He sat down with us to chat about his campaign.

Who you’re hearing:

• Dan Clark (social links)
• Drew Warshaw

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It’s a new year and that means the state Legislature is back in Albany for the start of the 2026 legislative session.

Democrats have a long list of priorities and have until early June to accomplish them. The state’s cost of living is at the top of that list but lawmakers expect to face other challenges this year as well.

We sat down with state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins this week at our launch event for Capitol Confidential Pro to talk about what’s ahead for the new year.

Who you’re hearing:

• Dan Clark (social links)
• State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins

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New York is facing a multibillion dollar gap heading into next year’s state budget because of decisions made at both the state and federal levels. State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli joins us with analysis on how those conversations could play out at the state Capitol and what they could mean for the state’s finances.

DiNapoli is also seeking reelection next year and is facing a primary challenge from at least two Democrats. We speak with him about his record and the case he plans to make to voters.

Who you’re hearing:

• Dan Clark (social links)
• State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli

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New York’s farms produce the milk in your fridge, the grapes in your wine and the cannabis I’m sure you don’t own. That work isn’t easy and it becomes even harder when government gets in the way.

We talk about challenges New York’s farms are facing this week with Renée St. Jacques, director of public policy at the New York Farm Bureau.

Who you’re hearing:

Dan Clark (social links)

Renee St. Jacques from the New York Farm Bureau

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Assemblywoman Pamela J. Hunter is both the referee and the conductor of Assembly proceedings. As speaker pro tempore, she presides over session in the Assembly, where she keeps things moving while keeping the peace.

But there’s a lot you probably don’t know about her, like how she also leads a national group of legislators who work on insurance law. We spoke about her work, what led her to this moment and a new call to change the Sex Offender Registration Act.

Who you’re hearing:

Dan Clark (social links)

Assemblywoman Pamela J. Hunter (social links)

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Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie has been criss-crossing the state for his annual summer tour but news that Republicans in Texas planned to redraw that state’s congressional maps brought him back to Albany this week.

We spoke with Heastie about New York’s redistricting process, why he has beef with former Chief Judge Janet DiFiore and what he expects next year amid changes in federal funding.

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Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado is the only Democrat who’s challenging Gov. Kathy Hochul for their party’s nomination in next year’s race for governor. He says she’s not leading on key issues important to New Yorkers.

We talk about why he jumped into the race, how New York could lower energy prices for ratepayers and why the cost of health care is so high.

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Inspector General Lucy Lang’s job is to investigate alleged misconduct at state agencies. But her office also plays a role in investigating the aftermath of a situation gone wrong. That’s what happened 10 years ago, after two men led police on a wild goose hunt after escaping a state prison in Dannemora. We chat with Lang about the breakout and what her office is focused on now, including the state’s prison system.

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There’s new opposition to movements grounded in the values of diversity, equity and inclusion in today’s politics and that presents a new challenge for advocates like L. Joy Williams, the president of the NAACP New York State Conference. The NAACP was first founded in New York more than a century ago and, while a lot has changed, the fight for equity remains strong. We sat down with Williams to chat about her vision in New York and her plan for achieving it.

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