He Got $162,000 in Taxpayer Money and 6% of the Vote

Good morning. It’s Monday; James Barron is off this week. Today we’ll look at a candidate for State Assembly who received more than $162,000 under the state’s matching-funds program — and got less than 6 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary last week. We’ll also get details on why New Jersey regulators are reviewing liquor licenses at two of Donald Trump’s golf resorts.

Credit…Janice Chung for The New York Times

New York State went to unusual lengths to give a long-shot candidate for a State Assembly seat in Queens more than $162,000 in taxpayer money for his campaign, even though the paperwork he submitted to regulators lacked information their handbook called for.

That candidate, Dao Yin, was trounced in the Democratic primary last week, pulling in less than 6 percent of the vote.

The New York Times revealed right before the primary that Yin’s campaign had submitted fake donations and forged signatures to obtain much of the money. On Thursday, the state’s Public Campaign Finance Board voted unanimously to adopt an emergency resolution meant to tighten its rules and prevent future abuses.

Under the state’s new matching-funds program — largely modeled on the one that New York City created almost 40 years ago, when Edward Koch was mayor — candidates can receive taxpayer money to finance their campaigns by submitting proof that they have received small donations from supporters in their districts.