As state lawmakers consider a two-year delay in rolling out a system of publicly financed political campaigns in New York, the ongoing redistricting process in the state Assembly is playing a role in the discussions, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Tuesday confirmed. 

"Certainly the Assembly is going through a redistricting situation, so it's part of the things we are talking about," Stewart-Cousins said during an unrelated news conference.

Spectrum News 1 reported on Monday state lawmakers were weighing a two-year delay in the implementation of the public financing system, which will provide public money matched with donations to political candidates. 

Discussions are being held over the future of the public financing system as lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul are negotiating a budget proposal that has set aside $25 million for public matching funds. 

"There are obviously conversations being had," Stewart-Cousins said. "We as a conference have not had a broad conversation, but I am aware of a variety of issues that people have brought up." 

The measure has long been a goal for good-government advocates in New York as a way to get money out of politics and make it easier for people to run for elected office.  

But as the program is set to go into effect with a commission and funds for the matching donations, state lawmakers in the state Assembly are simultaneously awaiting newly drawn legislative districts as a redistricting commission is once again drawing new lines after a court challenge. 

Some incumbent lawmakers could face elections in newly drawn districts with a new set of voters as they also have the prospect of challengers running against them in a more competitive fundraising environment. 

The Brennan Center, meanwhile, pointed to a poll from the progressive Data for Progress that found 62% of voters backed the idea. 

“This poll says it loud and clear: New York’s voters support the public financing program, and they want Albany to fund it adequately in this budget,” said Joanna Zdanys, the senior counsel in the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program. “Whether they’re upstate or downstate, Democrat or Republican, New Yorkers are concerned about the influence of the wealthiest over state politics, and they want small donor public financing to have a chance to succeed."