HOCHUL GETS A BOOST FROM ANDY PAL
State Democratic chairman endorses her in ’22 gov race
Gov. Hochul picked up an endorsement from the chairman of New York’s Democratic Party on Monday, giving her a major inroad with the state’s political establishment as she gears up to run for reelection next year.
Jay Jacobs, who was handpicked for the top party post by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, said he’s throwing his weight behind Hochul because she’s “pragmatic” and “moderate,” making her a formidable candidate on a statewide level.
“We have a governor we know can win against any Republican they put up in the fall,” Jacobs said during a news conference on Long Island, adding that Hochul has proven since taking office that “she can do the job.”
Jacobs’ support gives an early advantage to Hochul — including access to his vast fund-raising machinery — as she prepares for what could become a hotly contested Democratic gubernatorial primary in 2022.
But, in a move that likely irked Hochul, Jacobs revealed he gave Cuomo “a courtesy call” before endorsing her because he said he’s “a fan of keeping good relationships with everyone.”
“I felt as a courtesy to the former governor, that I should call him so he knows,” Jacobs said of Cuomo, who resigned after state Attorney General Letitia James’ office corroborated allegations that he sexually harassed 11 women, most of them much younger staffers.
Having gotten a heads-up from Jacobs, Cuomo issued a lengthy email statement Monday morning that took indirect aim at Hochul.
“I fear the state is in a dangerous moment,” said the statement from Cuomo, who has not ruled out running for governor again in 2022 and is sitting on an $18 million campaign war chest.
“This is not New York at her finest, and we must never settle for less than the people of the state deserve.”
Hochul, who served as Cuomo’s lieutenant governor before being sworn in as his successor Aug. 25, waved off the thinly veiled jab from her former boss when asked about it later in the day at an unrelated event in Brooklyn.
“I’m actually too busy governing New York to worry about emails that are written by people,” she said, before adding that she’s “proud to have the support of Jay Jacobs ... and anyone else who wants
to line up behind me, but they know that is not my focus.”
Hochul is the only Democrat who has officially declared she’s running in next summer’s Democratic gubernatorial primary.
In addition to Jacobs’ announcement, Hochul was also endorsed Monday by Rich Schaffer, the chairman of the Suffolk County Democratic Party, signaling she’s putting her emphasis on, at least initially, building a coalition of support outside the city.
City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who’s weighing a 2022 primary challenge against Hochul, took issue with Jacobs’ endorsement and contrasted it against Jacobs’ and the governor’s refusal to support India Walton, a socialist candidate who won the Democratic primary to become Buffalo’s next mayor.
“If she, Jay Jacobs or any other Democratic state leaders are more interested in supporting Democratic candidates than cynical incumbency protection, they would be focused less on avoiding a 2022 primary, where Jacobs should be impartial, and more on the 2021 general election where they still refuse to endorse the young Black female Democratic nominee for mayor of New York’s second-largest city,” Williams said.
Beyond Williams, James and Mayor de Blasio have openly mused about wanting to run for governor next year.
James, whose sexual misconduct probe prompted Cuomo’s downfall, could shake up the dynamics of the gubernatorial race dramatically if she launches a campaign.
While Hochul racked up Jacobs’ endorsement, James spent the day in the city and on Long Island garnering support from local lawmakers for a $1.5 billion initiative launched by her office to combat opioid abuse.
Whoever wins next year’s Democratic gubernatorial race appears likely to face off against Rep. Lee Zeldin of Long Island or Andrew Giuliani, the top candidates in the Republican primary.
Due to New York’s overwhelmingly Democratic electorate, GOP campaigns for statewide office are generally considered long shots.
Still, Giuliani, the son of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, claimed Jacobs’ endorsement only fueled his party’s chances.
“The race to the left fringes begins,” the younger Giuliani tweeted. “We will defeat Hochul or whoever the Democratic nominee is next November.”