Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) is not endorsing a candidate in the New York City 2025 mayoral race but recommended that the winner be her ally.
Hochul became governor after serving as lieutenant governor to Andrew Cuomo, who has since announced his own candidacy for NYC mayor. Cuomo resigned in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, which opened the door for Hochul to take over. The governor clarified on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation on Sunday that she would not be making an endorsement in the race but expressed her need for a mayor “who’s not looking to be at war with the governor, who will actually be a partner.”
“They should be looking for somebody who will work with the governor. Now, that has not always been the practice, as you’ve seen historically. I worked with Bill De Blasio at the end of his term. I work with Eric Adams. We don’t need the conflict that is historically defined, the relationship, because, you know, who gets hurt when the governor and the mayor are fighting? The people of New York,” Hochul said.
This came after New York City Mayor Eric Adams saw the five federal corruption charges against him dismissed by the Department of Justice. At the time, Adams sought to expedite the trial so he could focus on his reelection campaign. However, Hochul saw the dismissal as an attempt by the Trump administration to “interfere in the operations of our city.”
While Hochul holds the power to remove Adams from office, she has so far left him to finish his term.
“I’ll work with anybody as long as they want to focus on the agenda that I’ve put forth, that is for New York City residents,” Hochul continued. “Someone who’s smart enough to know to work with me because otherwise it won’t be fun.”
ERIC ADAMS SAYS CUOMO ‘CAN’T GET UNDER MY SKIN’ AS EX-GOVERNOR LEADS IN POLLS
After President Donald Trump entered office, the DOJ dismissed one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals; one count of wire fraud; two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national; and one count of bribery.
Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello‘s pastoral duties were reduced to nearly nothing when the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn discovered money transfers to the New York City mayor’s office. Former Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, former New York City Public Schools Chancellor David Banks, and former Deputy Mayor Philip Banks III resigned after the indictment against Adams.