From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell

On this week's From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell, Jack breaks down the election results, the political shake-up, and what he's watching next.

He's talking:

🔹 Hochul's 20-point victory: What does it say about New York voters?

🔹 Dissecting Democrats' big wins: Can the party deliver on voters' expectations?

🔹 The Republican reckoning: Where did it all go wrong, & where does the party go from here?

🔹 The road to 2028: How much did Election Night change the presidential landscape?

The votes are counted. The political fallout is just beginning.

🎙️ Listen to the latest episode of From the Lobby with Jack O'Donnell!

Days to go. Polls are shifting. Early voting is surging. And the balance of power could be up for grabs.

On this week’s From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell, political strategist Jack O’Donnell breaks down the races, the risks, and the surprises that could shape Tuesday’s results.

Here’s what’s at stake:

• ​Kathy Hochul’s lead: Is it all but over for Bruce Blakeman?
• ​Early voting surge: Nearly twice as many New Yorkers voted on day one compared with four years ago. How does this impact the outcome of the races?
• ​Looking ahead to 2030: Why is Hochul already talking about a potential third term?
• ​The races that matter: Which contest could have the biggest impact on the balance of power?
• ​Election night surprises: Where could we see an upset?
• ​A blue wave or a blue splash as the results come in?

Plus, find out where to catch Jack’s live election night analysis as the results roll in.

Listen now!

The clock is ticking toward Election Day, and the political stakes are getting higher. With early voting underway, can Bruce Blakeman make up ground against Governor Kathy Hochul?

And what do the latest polls tell us about the Republican Party’s chances heading into the midterms?

On this episode of From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell, political strategist and campaign veteran Jack O’Donnell breaks down what’s happening now and what to watch in the final days.

• Can attacks on rising utility bills and public safety turn the tide in New York’s governor’s race?

• What does a trailing candidate need to change the conversation and shake up a race?

• With President Trump’s approval ratings slipping and House races shifting toward Democrats, is the GOP coalition showing cracks?

• A moment to celebrate! From the Lobby and OD&A’s Monday Morning Memo earn PRSA Buffalo Niagara Silver Excalibur Awards for excellence in communications.

Tune in for Jack’s take on the races, the strategy, and what it all means!

A fiery debate, a billionaire’s big midterm bet, and a fight over the future of New York City’s horse carriages. Who’s gaining ground, who’s taking a gamble, and what happens next?

On this week’s From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell:

• Debate Night Showdown: Did Kathy Hochul or Bruce Blakeman come out on top? And did Hochul play the Trump card too often?

• The Road to Congress: Democrats see an opening, but Republicans have deep pockets. Can campaign cash overcome political momentum?

• Clip-Clop Controversy: NYC’s horse carriage industry could be on its way out. Is this the end of an era?

Jack O’Donnell, Albany insider, campaign strategist, and Managing Partner of O’Donnell & Associates, breaks down the headlines! Give it a listen!

The news is moving fast as Election Day approaches, and the stakes are getting higher.

This week on From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell, Jack talks polls, power, and the money moves that could shake up New York:

• Hochul’s lead: Is Blakeman’s strength upstate and among independents enough to make this a real race?
• Trump’s wildcard: Will the president’s push for Blakeman help his campaign or Hochul's?
• The midterm ripple effect: Could Democrats flip Congress and change the course of Trump’s presidency?
• Wall Street’s windfall: Could record profits give New York’s strained budget some breathing room?
• Albany’s unfinished business: Why are hundreds of bills still awaiting action, and what happens behind the scenes before the governor makes her move?

Give it a listen!

Election Day is just over a month away and the stakes are rising.

On this episode of From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell, Joanna Pasceri sits down with Jack to break down the races, money, and issues shaping New York politics right now.

• Tax cuts are taking center stage. What should voters watch as Kathy Hochul and Bruce Blakeman make their cases on affordability?
• The money race is heating up. How much could outside spending matter down the stretch?
• A congressional race to watch. Mike Lawler and Cait Conley are in a tight contest. What could decide it?
• New York’s AI moment. With the industry expanding rapidly, how is the state balancing economic opportunity with calls for regulation?
• 25 years of impact. Jack reflects on O’Donnell & Associates being named to City & State’s Hall of Fame: 20 Years of Impact in New York.
• Then and now. What has changed most in New York politics since 2006?

Listen to From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell !

Trump and Mamdani. Two political opposites. One increasingly interesting relationship.

This week on From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell, Jack breaks down:

• Trump & Mamdani: They disagree on plenty. So why do these meetings keep happening and does either side gain politically?

• The governor’s race: Two new polls tell very different stories. What explains the wide gap and which numbers deserve the closest attention?

• The October debate: Hochul and Blakeman are set to face off. What does each candidate need to accomplish and what could change the trajectory of the race?

• The congressional picture: Democrats lead on the generic ballot, but neither party is viewed favorably. What does that say about the midterm environment?

• AOC in Buffalo: The Queens congresswoman is coming to Western New York to rally inactive Democratic voters, but why Buffalo?

Tune in for Jack’s analysis of the latest political moves, polling numbers and what to watch next from New York City to Washington, D.C.

November is getting closer, and the political stakes are getting higher.

In this week’s From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell, Jack digs into the moves, numbers, and questions shaping the road to Election Day:

• $1 billion in utility rebate checks are about to reach New Yorkers. The timing is drawing attention with the governor’s race weeks away.

• Bruce Blakeman faces a steep Democratic registration advantage in his bid for governor. Can he overcome it?

• A new national poll has some interesting numbers for both parties, and a warning sign for Democrats who are running as Democratic Socialists.

• The House left Washington early, putting off an impeachment resolution involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is looking increasingly like someone who could be thinking about 2028. Jack weighs in on her potential White House run.

Give it a listen!

As New York marks 25 years since 9/11, the anniversary is becoming a political battleground. Jack O’Donnell weighs in on what that says about the state of politics today, and takes on a series of other fights unfolding in New York and across the country.

In this episode:

• 9/11 at 25: Why is a day of remembrance becoming a political flashpoint and when will justice prevail?
• Open primaries: Should unaffiliated voters have a greater role in New York’s primary elections?
• Crime and the governor’s race: After violence at the West Indian Day Parade, the political blame game is underway.
• Accountability in Albany: A state senator faces scrutiny over allegations involving campaign and taxpayer-funded travel expenses.
• Trump’s $5,000 promise: What should voters make of the president’s latest proposal as Republicans look toward the midterms?

Jack cuts through the latest headlines and looks at what’s really at stake. Listen in!

The governor’s race just got a lot more interesting.

A new Siena poll cuts Kathy Hochul’s lead over Bruce Blakeman in half—from 20 points to 10. Is Blakeman really gaining ground? Or is this just one poll catching a moment in time?

On this week’s From the Lobby, Jack O’Donnell digs into the numbers behind the headline and what they could mean as the campaign heats up.

Inside the episode:

• Why Hochul’s lead has narrowed and what changed
• Where Blakeman has an unexpected edge with voters
• The character traits giving Blakeman an advantage
• AI in campaign ads and the political and legal questions it raises
• The DSA’s growing influence and its challenge with the broader electorate
• One striking divide over whether New York’s best days are ahead or behind

The poll gives us plenty to talk about.

🎙️ Listen now to From the Lobby with Jack O’Donnell.