Congressman Israel (Photo: NY1)

New York Congressman Steve Israel, who heads up the House Democrats' campaign efforts, made an interesting pitch to NY1's Errol Louis on Inside City Hall last Friday. He argued the most New York is now in play with the judge's new congressional redistricting plan.

"Right in New York, as a result of the map the courts have approved, we have races all over the state that will be competitive," he said, before ticking down a laundry list of newly competitive seats.

"Congressman Gibson now has a district that is much more Democratic, [with] the map on Long Island, Congressman King goes from safe Republican seat to a 49.5% Democratic seat," he continued. "Congressman Reed has a more Democratic district. Congresswoman Buerkle, in the Syracuse area, is so out of touch ... with her district that I believe we're going to pick that one up."

Mr. Israel is correct that a number of Republicans have more competitive districts, but he may need some luck and extraordinary candidates to turn the entire state blue, although it isn't completely out of question. For example, Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice might need to enter the race against veteran GOP  Congressman Pete King to truly make that race competitive.

(Of course, every single House seat in New York State except Mr. King's has been held by a Democratic incumbent within the last two election cycles, so perhaps Democratic competitiveness across the state isn't especially new.)

On the flip side of the coin, Republicans have their own reasons to be optimistic with redistricting. Democratic Congresswomen Louise Slaughter, Kathy Hochul, and Nita Lowey have seen potentially strong Republican challengers mull races against them in recent days.

"She takes her job and her public service seriously so she's always going to work hard at building a political network to keep her in a position to continue the important work she's doing," a spokesman for Ms. Rice said, hinting that she could have higher ambitions for the future. "While she loves her job, her success at building that network will always give her a lot of options."

The number represents a huge haul for a down-ballot suburban lawmaker, especially considering that Ms. Rice lost the Attorney General's race to Eric Schneiderman in 2010. The figure announced today even outpaces what Mr. Schneiderman raised in this fundraising period.

It remains unclear what Ms. Rice is raising the money for. She represents a competitive district in Nassau, so she could be stock-piling for her re-election efforts in 2013.

However, other options are available as well. Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, who barely edged out incumbent Tom Suozzi in 2009, could be a tempting target for her. Ms. Rice has also been mentioned as a possible Congressional candidate should Carolyn McCarthy retire, but the money raised for her state fund would not be transferrable. Or, perhaps, if Andrew Cuomo runs for president in 2016, and Mr. Schneiderman follows his path across State Street to the Governor's Mansion, could Ms. Rice try to be the state's top cop yet again?

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice (photo credit: New York NOW)

Kathleen Rice, the Nassau County District Attorney who ran as a tough, law-and-order attorney general candidate last year, is warning clerks they could face "criminal prosecution" if they refuse marriage licenses to same-sex couples after July 24.

In a letter to clerks today, Rice said the religious protections within the same-sex marriage legislation are "inapplicable to town and city clerks" and refusal to serve gay couples "may constitute Official Misconduct."

Letter after the jump.

"That's exactly what it sounded like when I went to church on Sunday," he said. The audience burst into laughter.

Alesi didn't need to explain the joke.

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Religious organizations had opposed the passage of the bill, as did most of his Republican colleagues. But nowadays, the adulations he receives are overwhelming, with many crediting him with breaking the seal -- and signaling it's okay for other moderate Republicans to come out (yes, pun intended) for same-sex marriage.

"The best story is the reverend on the right that was praying for marriage equality, and the reverend on the right who was praying against gay marriage. They're praying to the same God," said Alesi. "That created a dilemma for God and it created a dilemma for me," he said, joking slightly.

Marriage advocates had gathered inside the basement of a swanky bar in Chelsea, hundreds of miles away from the rural Monroe County district Alesi has represented for years. A giant disco ball turned slowly. The word "Hiro" was etched into  a chunky piece of wood over the stage.

The party was a who's who of celebrities and advocates.

Russell Simmons, wearing a blue baseball hat and white sneakers, said he saw marriage advocates rolling out videos and pressing the case publicly, and decided to reach out to them.

"Why haven't you called me?" Simmons recalled asking one of HRC's campaign operatives, Brian Ellner. "I had been a long-time supporter and I felt excluded for a minute." Simmons called the victory in New York "a great start" and "we're on to Maryland next."

Simmons poses for a few pictures with legislators before leaving.

Sean Avery of the Rangers, wearing a gray blazer, white t-shirt, silky blue pants and sunglasses, said that since his advocacy for same-sex marriage, "I've become extremely popular in Chelsea."

Congressmembers Joe Crowley and Jerry Nadler loitered near the stage. Organizers kept a look out for the younger Barbara Bush -- not only a supporter, but the star of the most-watched HRC video in a series they released on the issue. Nassau D.A. Kathleen Rice and her aide, Eric Phillips, were eager to shake as many hands as possible. Jennifer Cunningham, the political operative who orchestrated the effort among the various advocacy groups, slung a black book pack over her shoulders and left early.

But one of the evening's biggest stars, Governor Andrew Cuomo, was still in Albany, working.

"I think he definitely has his eye on a bid for the White House," said actor Mark Ruffalo, who has spoken out in favor of same-sex marriage. When I asked about Cuomo's record on hydrofracking--another issue on which Ruffalo has spoken out--his wife, Sunrise, said, "Oh, you know about our other [issue]."

"I feel like these two are oddly connected to each other," said Ruffalo.

"They're so progressive, both of them," said Sunrise. "It's forward thinking."

Ruffalo praised Cuomo's ability to marshall the various marriage advocacy groups and said he hoped the governor would do the same thing with environment groups opposed to hydrofracking.

"I'm using this as a model," said Ruffalo. "He reached out to me early on to ask me about energy policy in New York State. And if he was really smart, he would use this hydrofracking to pivot into a real energy policy for New York State, one that is leading the nation, just like he did with gay marriage."