Thursday, October 1, 2026
250 years ago, our Founding Fathers pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to establish a nation built on the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Those ideals remain the foundation of the American dream. Sadly, they are under threat. What is happening today isn’t merely politics as usual. It is a battle between common sense and chaos — and in New York, chaos is winning.
The growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America, highlighted by the election of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, should concern every New Yorker. According to its website, the DSA supports ending deportations, closing prisons, abolishing police departments, expanding government control, extending voting rights to noncitizens, and providing taxpayer-funded benefits regardless of immigration status. These proposals represent a dramatic shift away from the principles of individual responsibility, public safety and limited government that have long guided our state and nation.
This is no longer a fringe movement. A recent University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll found U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez leading the field of potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates, reflecting the growing influence of the party’s progressive wing. In New York, DSA-backed candidates continue to gain ground, and could expand their bloc in the State Legislature to 14 members after November’s elections, while Gov. Kathy Hochul and Albany Democrats have been unwilling — or unable — to stop their party’s shift left.
I believe there’s a better way.
Throughout my time in the Senate, I have worked across the aisle whenever possible. This year alone I helped pass more than 120 bills, because governing should be about delivering results, not advancing an ideological agenda. While we may disagree on many issues, my focus has always been finding common ground and doing what’s best for the people I represent. Unfortunately, that becomes increasingly difficult when ideology outweighs practical solutions and moderate voices feel pressured to follow a more extreme agenda rather than focus on what works for everyday New Yorkers.
After eight years of one-party control, the results are clear. State spending has increased by nearly 65 percent. New York remains one of the highest-taxed states in America, while families continue to face some of the highest costs in the nation for housing, energy, child care, insurance and everyday necessities. Businesses and residents continue to leave, taking jobs, investment and opportunity with them.
Yet Albany’s response has been more spending, more mandates and more taxes.
History has taught us that we can’t tax our way to prosperity. Policies that punish success, grow government and restrict freedom will only drive more residents and businesses out of our state. New Yorkers aren’t asking government to run their lives. They’re asking, Can I afford to stay here? They want affordable groceries, utility bills and homes, and the ability to raise a family and retire with dignity. They want safe communities, reliable energy and a government that respects the money they work hard to earn.
That’s why my colleagues and I have fought for common-sense solutions: repealing congestion pricing, eliminating costly energy mandates, returning $3 billion in unused energy funds to ratepayers, repealing Cap-and-Invest, strengthening utility oversight, eliminating state-imposed fees on private water bills, requiring independent audits of state spending, protecting crime victims, and requiring a two-thirds vote for Albany to raise taxes or fees.
I also introduced the Taxpayer Rescue Act, which would provide the largest personal income tax cut in state history while placing responsible limits on future spending. Families understand how to prioritize their own budgets better than government does. Every dollar that stays in the hands of working New Yorkers is a dollar they can use for their families, their futures and their communities. Because of ideology, however, virtually all were unanimously rejected by the Democratic majority.
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we should remember what made us exceptional: freedom, opportunity, personal responsibility, and the belief that hard work should be rewarded. Bigger government and higher taxes have never created prosperity.
After eight years of one-party rule, too many New Yorkers feel they are working harder but falling further behind. They deserve a government that listens, delivers results, and puts families first. Real change begins by restoring common sense, changing the direction of our state, and changing who’s in charge in Albany this November.
Steve Rhoads represents the 5th State Senate District.
