“All 19 House Democratic lawmakers from New York have endorsed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s renomination, following in the footsteps of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani,” the New York Post reports.
Kathy Hochul Sees Her Star Rise
“One year ago, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s popularity was plummeting, rivals from the left and right were circling and her path to re-election looked bumpy,” the New York Times reports.
“Now, with the election nine months away, Ms. Hochul is heading to Syracuse for the State Democratic Party convention on Friday in a somewhat surprising position of strength. Two Republican bids fizzled: Representative Elise Stefanik dropped out, and Representative Mike Lawler’s challenge never materialized. Mr. Torres similarly ruled out running.”
“The only serious candidates left standing are Bruce Blakeman, the Republican Nassau County executive, and Mr. Delgado, who entered the race in June.”
Mamdani to Endorse Kathy Hochul
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani “is set to endorse Gov. Kathy Hochul’s reelection run this week, providing her a critical inroad with progressive voters in New York,” Politico reports.
“Mamdani’s expected endorsement deals a near fatal blow to Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who’s running to the left of Hochul in June’s Democratic gubernatorial primary and wants to draw on the momentum generated by Mamdani’s successful campaign last year.”
Kathy Hochul Picks Her Running Mate
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) “has selected former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate for a women-led ticket — a first in Empire State history for a major party,” Politico reports.
“Adams’ selection is simultaneously a bold and safe choice for the governor.”
“Hochul and Adams are both moderate, church-going mothers who take a low-key approach to their jobs and are around the same age. Yet the governor, who holds a massive polling advantage over her political rivals, is making a statement by picking a woman to be her No. 2 in a state government that, until recently, has been male dominated.”
Kathy Hochul Forges Alliance with Zohran Mamdani
New York Times: “As Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York prepares for what could be the most consequential stretch of her career, much will hinge on her relationship with New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, a man of a different generation and outlook.”
“Ms. Hochul, 67, watched Mr. Mamdani, 34, come out of relative political obscurity last year and inspire a mass movement of energized New Yorkers.”
“Now, the moderate governor has entered into a pragmatic alliance with the progressive mayor, with both deciding that it represents the best chance of delivering their signature priorities.”
New York Republicans Want Trump to Pick
Politico: “Only Trump has the immense power to short circuit a primary in his native state. Publicly he isn’t exercising it.”
“Behind the scenes, Trump spoke with Blakeman about running in the days leading up to his announcement… Trump never explicitly told Blakeman not to run…”
“Further complicating matters, the president this week effusively praised Stefanik and Blakeman as ‘two fantastic people’—going as far as suggesting that a primary may ultimately produce a battle-tested nominee.”
Trump Stays Out of New York Gubernatorial Primary
New York Times: “Trump’s refusal to use his influence to halt Mr. Blakeman — and his subsequent neutrality since the announcement — sent shock waves through Republican circles, where many party loyalists had already committed to supporting Ms. Stefanik and wish to avoid a primary.”
New York Republican Defied Trump
“Bruce Blakeman’s announcement that he is running for governor against fellow Republican Elise Stefanik caught many by surprise, not least of which was the White House,” New York Magazine reports.
“Days before the Nassau County executive said he would challenge Stefanik, President Donald Trump called Blakeman to discourage him from running…”
“On Tuesday morning, Blakeman announced he was running anyway, complicating what Stefanik believed would be a cakewalk to the nomination. The result leaves Trump with two of his allies running against each other in his home state.”
Bruce Blakeman to Run for New York Governor
“Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is preparing to enter the race for New York governor as soon as Tuesday,” Politico reports.
“Blakeman’s decision to seek the Republican nomination is a major snag in Rep. Elise Stefanik’s efforts to secure GOP backing in her challenge to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is running for a second full term next year.”
Trump Complicates Elise Stefanik’s Path to Governor
“President Donald Trump’s astonishingly chummy Oval Office meeting with New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani could not have come at a worse time for Rep. Elise Stefanik,” Politico reports.
“The New York Republican is mounting an uphill gubernatorial bid in a deep blue state, building her campaign on the argument that Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is the nation’s worst chief executive — and tying Hochul to the 34-year-old democratic socialist who will soon lead New York City.”
“Trump blew up that message in minutes.”
Kathy Hochul Still In Good Shape
A new Siena poll in New York finds Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) favorability and job approval ratings are each down five points from September.
However, she continues to have a huge lead, 56 to 16%, in a Democratic primary against Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado (D), and a significant 20-point lead, 52 to 32%, over Rep. Elise Stefanik (R) in a general election matchup.
Hochul Praises Mamdani But Not His Policies
“New York Gov. Kathy Hochul spent the week celebrating Zohran Mamdani’s historic mayoral victory. Then, on Saturday, she made clear how far she’s willing to go with his progressive agenda,” Politico reports.
“The governor praised the democratic socialist ‘who’s lighting politics on fire’ — but that didn’t stop her from opposing his plan to make New York City buses free, questioning how he plans to fund universal child care and saying she’ll keep an eye on how Mamdani leads New York’s Jewish community.”
Stefanik Will Try to Tie Hochul to Mamdani
“Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) aims to challenge New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) in next year’s elections — and survive a tough midterm environment — by targeting New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as much as her actual opponents,” Axios reports.
“Stefanik’s gambit pulls back the curtain on a big part of Republicans’ emerging 2026 strategy — weather President Trump’s growing unpopularity by casting Democrats as socialists in Mamdani’s mold.”
NY1: GOP leaders quickly coalesce around Stefanik in campaign for New York governor.
Stefanik to Launch Campaign for New York Governor
Rep. Elise Stefanik has built out an extensive political team as she prepares to launch a 2026 campaign for New York governor in November, Axios reports.
Stefanik has more than $13 million in cash on hand — more than any other New York House Republican in recent history — and is hiring a slate of veteran political operatives as she seeks to be New York’s first GOP governor since George Pataki.
Race for New York Governor Looks Tight
A new Manhattan Institute poll in New York finds Elise Stefanik (R) leading Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) by one point in next year’s race for governor, 43% to 42% among registered voters.
Hochul Has Wide Lead Over Stefanik
A new Siena poll in New York finds Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) with a 52% to 27% lead over Rep. Elise Stefanik (R) in the gubernatorial race, a big increase from the 45% to 31% advantage the poll gave the incumbent a month ago.
Hochul’s Lead Over Stefanik Narrows
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) job approval and favorability ratings are up a little from June, but her lead in a potential gubernatorial race against Rep. Elise Stefanik (R) fell to 14 points, 45% to 31%, down from a 23-point lead in June, 47% to 24%, according to a new Siena Poll.
Kathy Hochul Leads 3 Potential Challengers
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) leads each of three potential Republican 2026 gubernatorial candidates by at least 20 points, according to a new Siena College Poll.
Hochul leads Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman 44% to 19%; she leads Rep. Elise Stefanik 47% to 24%; and she leads Rep. Mike Lawler 44% to 24%.
Said pollster Don Levy: “While the early leads seem large, Hochul is not hitting the ‘magic’ 51% mark against any of these opponents and in each matchup, between a quarter and a third of voters wasn’t able to choose between the two candidates.”
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