Live blog: Somos 2026

6:15 p.m. – The day after Election Day in NY-17

Ken Jenkins is ready for rest and relaxation

After a long Election Day in Westchester County, County Executive Ken Jenkins arrives at Somos, ready to blow off some steam https://t.co/3y5WYU1TJh

— Sophie Krichevsky (she/her/hers) (@skrichev13) November 4, 2026

After a chaotic Election Day where ballot scanners across Westchester County were unable to count votes for much of the day, you can bet few are as happy to be in San Juan as County Executive Ken Jenkins. Luckily for him and the state Board of Elections, issues in Westchester County didn't stop one of the hottest congressional races in the country from being called for Cait Conley last night. – Sophie Krichevsky

6:10 p.m. – Oh Zohran where art thou?

From the Caribe Hilton lobby

While New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won’t touch down in San Juan until late tomorrow night to attend Friday and Saturday events, a few officials in his administration will be holding down the fort in the meantime. 

Expect to see Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Helen Arteaga, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Julie Su and Department of Veteran Services Commissioner Yesenia Mata around, according to a spokesperson for the mayor. In the same vein as his predecessors, schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels is also expected.

We’ll find out soon if Mamdani has the same kind of main character energy surrounding him this year that he did last year… but it’s a safe bet. – Sahalie Donaldson

5:45 p.m. – Arriving at El Caribe

Losing some old colleagues, meeting new ones.

Standing on line to check in at El Caribe, state Sen. Leroy Comrie said he was pleasantly surprised by the number of seats Democrats picked up in the upper chamber Tuesday night, noting the victories of Sarah Rogerson over longtime Republican state Sen. Jim Tedisco, Joe Rand over state Sen. Bill Weber and others. Asked about the governor’s roughly 20-point margin of victory, Comrie was impressed, and said it likely helped the rest of the ticket. He also said it was a result of voters “not listening to bad messaging from the GOP.”

“Blakeman was an albatross for the rest of the ticket,” the Queens Democrat said of the Republican gubernatorial candidate. – Sophie Krichevsky

11 a.m. – Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Somos

A Q&A with Assembly Member Karines Reyes

Assembly Member Karines Reyes, who chairs the Somos conference and the Assembly and Senate Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, spoke with City & State about the upcoming conference, its milestone anniversary and concerns about the impact on Puerto Rico’s water crisis. Read more here. – Kate Lisa

10 a.m. – Somos outbound

A packed flight to the Caribbean

The 10:35 a.m. flight out of Newark Airport buzzed with energy as gleeful Democratic elected officials set out for San Juan, Puerto Rico, buoyed by last night’s results – a far cry from the dejected energy that followed President Donald Trump’s victory two years ago. 

“Would you describe it as more of a shellacking or more of an ass-whooping?” New York City Comptroller Mark Levine joked, turning to City Council Member Eric Dinowitz who sat at his side outside the gate. (Levine had waxed a bit more poetic earlier, describing the results as a long time coming, a new dawn even.)

“I don’t use foul language – I don’t say anything to press that I wouldn’t want my kids to see,” Dinowitz quipped, before pivoting to the path ahead.

“We have a party that’s more interested in working families than in the very few wealthy people,” he said. “We have two years to demonstrate to the American people that we have a productive agenda that isn’t just no Trump.”

Assembly Member Catalina Cruz, New York City Council Member Kamillah Hanks, Housing activist Shams DaBaron, Reed Dunlea of New York Immigration Coalition and political consultant William Lynch were among those also spotted en route to Somos. – Sahalie Donaldson

9:45 a.m. – New York pols are pushing bills about Puerto Rico

Helping the island’s financial outlook

Every year, New York’s political class flocks to Somos following Election Day, in a sign of the central importance that Latinos, and particularly Puerto Ricans, have in the state’s politics. But lawmakers of Puerto Rican descent want to do more than just celebrate Puerto Rican heritage; they want to change the relationship that currently exists between the United States and Puerto Rico. Read more here. – Peter Sterne

Nov. 2 – What people will be talking about at Somos

What’s the poolside rumor mill cooking up?

We’re heading down to San Juan for another year at Somos. Fresh off Election Day, there’s a lot to consider heading into a quiet 2027 – and setting the stage for more exciting elections in 2028 and 2029. Read more here. – Sophie Krichevsky