New York Times: “Republicans running statewide in a Democrat-dominated state like New York often follow a predictable path toward the political center. On Sunday, though, Representative Lee Zeldin will take a different route — south to the Jersey Shore for a fund-raiser starring former President Donald Trump.”

“The high-profile rendezvous, at the palatial seaside retreat of old Trump real estate friends, has already prompted days of Democratic attacks against Mr. Zeldin, the Republican nominee for governor.”

“After months of speculation whether former Gov. Andrew Cuomo would make another run for his old job — less than a year after resigning in disgrace when faced with allegations of sexual harassment and wrongdoing — the deadline came and went with no paperwork filed by Cuomo,” NBC New York reports.

“The first deadline to get the Cuomo name back in the race of Democrats passed in April, but that wasn’t the long-time politician’s only shot back in the political arena. Tuesday marked his last chance to run for governor of New York by filing petitions to run as a third-party candidate.”

A new Siena poll in New York finds Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) with a commanding 40-point lead over both New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams (D) and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D) in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.

If former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) runs in the primary, Hochul has the support of 38% of Democrats, followed by Cuomo at 30%, Suozzi at 10% and Williams at 7%.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said that he’s not only open to running for governor again, he would “consider creating his own political party to do so,” Bloomberg reports.

Cuomo is quoted by Politico: “I have a lot of options open, and I’m considering them.”

“Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is considering a run against his replacement and fellow Democrat, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), as part of an attempt at a comeback after resigning in disgrace amid multiple accusations of sexual harassment by former aides,” CNBC reports.

“His aides have been conducting their own internal voter polling on a potential matchup… After a recent public poll from Emerson College showed Cuomo was a few points behind Hochul, the former governor received calls from allies encouraging him to run against Hochul.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has raised $21.6 million for her reelection campaign — “a record-smashing sum that positions her as the prohibitive favorite to win a full term as governor this fall,” the New York Times reports.

Former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced that he will not run for governor.

New York Times: “Three months after Ms. Hochul’s unexpected ascension as the state’s first female governor, next year’s Democratic primary contest is now veering toward something New York has not seen in decades: a freewheeling intraparty battle among some of the state’s best-known political figures.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) is planning to soon announce she’s running for governor of New York, The City reports.

A new Siena poll in New York finds Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) leads her closest possible Democratic primary opponent by between 14 and 19 points in three possible scenarios.

And this is interesting: “Former President Donald Trump has long been the pol with the lowest favorability rating among New York voters. No more. Trump has a 37-59 percent favorability rating, net 22 points negative. Andrew Cuomo is 33-60 percent, net 27 points negative. And Bill de Blasio is 25-56 percent, net 31 points negative.”

Top aides to then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) sought a job in the Biden administration for then-Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) “so they could remove her from the gubernatorial ticket ahead of his planned bid for a fourth term in 2022,” the Washington Post reports.

“Cuomo’s office told Hochul early this year that they wanted… someone with a deeper political pull with minority communities.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) has begun to tell people privately that he plans to run for governor next year, the New York Times reports.

New York Times: “Barely a month after she unexpectedly ascended to the governor’s office after Andrew Cuomo’s resignation, Ms. Hochul is quietly revving up an aggressive fund-raising apparatus, seeking to build a formidable financial advantage — at least $10 million in donations by year’s end and as much as $25 million by next summer, donors and advisers say — to discourage or defeat potential rivals in what may be a fierce Democratic primary next year.”

“The governor’s political ramp-up, which has involved hiring a campaign manager and other senior aides, has not gone unnoticed.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) has been holding private talks with advisers and supporters about the possibility of a gubernatorial run, CNBC reports.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio (D) “has begun calling allies about a prospective run for governor in the wide-open Democratic primary next June,” Politico reports.

A new Co/Efficient poll in New York finds that incoming Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) would hold a small lead over Attorney General Letitia James (D) in a Democratic gubernatorial primary, 28% to 24% with 29% of voters undecided.

NBC Today: “Kathy Hochul, 62, is set to become the first female governor in New York history and the 57th governor overall when she is sworn into office Aug. 24 when Cuomo’s resignation takes effect. She said she plans on running for a full term in next year’s gubernatorial election.”

Said Hochul: “I fully expect to. I’m prepared for this. I’ve led a life working in every level of government from Congress to local government. I am the most prepared person to assume this responsibility, and I’m going to ask the voters at some point for their faith in me again.”

Politico: “The uncertainty has paralyzed much of New York’s Democratic political apparatus. State lawmakers have put their parallel impeachment investigation on a very slow burn. Cuomo has not revisited his pre-scandal pledge to run for a fourth term in 2022. And potential Democratic primary challengers are waiting to see if they’d face a wounded Cuomo, a vindicated Cuomo, or perhaps no Cuomo at all.”