The Prohibition Party of New York has responded to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2026 State of the State address, criticizing the governor’s proposals on alcohol and marijuana policy while calling for the repeal of New York’s tightened ballot access laws.
The response, published in its January newsletter, evaluates Hochul’s agenda and contrasts it with the Prohibition Party’s own priorities. While the party acknowledged several points it said could provide public benefit, it expressed concern that core elements of the governor’s plan reflect what it called “regressive” policy choices.
The party took considerable issue with Hochul’s policies pertaining to alcohol, denouncing proposals to ease restrictions on alcohol sales and expand the industry’s footprint in the state as a way to promote tourism. While agreeing with the governor’s assertion that government “can and must be a force for good,” the party argued that promoting the alcohol industry directly contradicts that principle and undermines public health.
It opposed efforts to revise New York’s Alcohol Beverage Control laws, including proposals to expand retail access and increase the number of licenses and locations permitted for alcohol producers. It also criticized initiatives to promote the state’s alcohol industry, including partnerships between state agencies and the New York Cider Association.
Pointing to the social and economic harms of alcohol consumption, which it said cost New York more than $16 billion annually in social, medical, and economic impacts, the party argued that expanding the industry would worsen those harms. “Expanding the alcohol industry will only make our state sicker, poorer, and more highly taxed, and using the state government to help it fundamentally violates the ethical duties of government to protect the lives, rights, and vital wellbeing of its citizens,” the party said.
The state Prohibition Party similarly criticized Hochul’s approach to marijuana policy, particularly the continued promotion of the legal cannabis industry and potential involvement of public institutions such as the SUNY and CUNY systems. The party said doing so would primarily benefit industry interests while misusing public resources. It also cautioned against rolling back certain state regulations under the guise of modernization, arguing that while revisiting dated rules can be appropriate, some of the regulations the governor termed “Prohibition-era” still serve a necessary purpose.
Beyond substance policy, the party raised concerns over New York’s ballot access laws, which were significantly tightened in 2020 under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The party denounced the changes as “electoral suppression” and expressed displeasure with Hochul for failing to address them, contending that they have reduced voter choice and electoral competition. It pointed to recent election cycles in which New York saw fewer candidates outside the two major parties and numerous legislative districts during the 2024 cycle with only a single candidate on the ballot.
“These repressive ballot access laws are a blight upon the electoral system of our state,” the party said. “We should be establishing election laws that enhance the ability of voters to vote for the candidates of their choice, that allow for freer participation in the electoral process, and provide fairer ballot access standards for independent candidates and alternative parties.”
While largely critical, the party acknowledged a number of Hochul’s proposals it said could have positive effects for the state. These included increased enforcement against illegal vape products, expanded opioid addiction treatment and prevention efforts, initiatives aimed at addressing teacher shortages and improving mental health services in schools, infrastructure investments and renewable energy development, expanded accessibility for disabled New Yorkers, and reforms related to criminal justice and victim support. However, the party argued that several of these goals would be undermined by policies expanding access to alcohol, marijuana, and gambling.
The Prohibition Party also presented its own priorities. Central among them is a comprehensive public health approach to substance use, including expanded education and prevention programs, increased investment in addiction treatment and cessation services, and policies aimed at gradually reducing the commercial availability of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The party reiterated its support for ending state support for the alcohol industry and strengthening existing restrictions on its sale.
In addition, the party called for the legislature to repeal the 2020 ballot access changes and pursue the adoption of fairer standards to expand participation in the electoral process. It also advocated for stronger ethics and transparency laws, reforms to combat sexual violence, including abolishing the statute of limitations for rape and the sexual abuse of children, environmental protection measures, education reform, expanded services for disabled New Yorkers, and what it termed a “sensible and holistic” approach to economic development.
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