Hotel union checks in PAC to aid Cuomo

ALBANY — An influential New York hotel union has created a super PAC that will support Gov. Cuomo and several congressional Democratic candidates in New York and New Jersey.

Called “Hotel Workers for Strong Communities,” the political action committee was created by the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council.

As an independent expenditure account, it cannot by law coordinate its efforts with the candidates it supports.

In addition to Cuomo, the PAC will look to help Antonio Delgado in his challenge to first-term Republican Hudson Valley Rep. John Faso, Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi in his challenge to freshman upstate GOP Rep. Claudia Tenney and several Democratic congressional candidates in New Jersey.

The union is also backing longtime supporter John Liu, the former city controller who is taking on state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Queens) in the upcoming Sept. 13 Democratic primary, a source close to the effort said. The union is also watching other congressional races as they unfold and will get involved if it looks like there is “a need for engagement,” the source said.

“The union is increasingly a bigger player and taking on more of the (Democratic) party’s electoral priorities,” he said. “All the priorities the union has are at stake in this election.”

The source said the PAC anticipates having a sevenfigure budget that will be spent throughout the upcoming primaries and the general election. The effort will include TV, radio and digital ads as well as phone and text voter engagement and mobilization programs, the source said.