Soon after Governor Kathy Hochul picked former City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate for the June primary, the Brooklyn Democratic Party yanked its support for Hochul.
The Brooklyn Democratic Party, chaired by Asemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, had endorsed Hochul for re-election on Tuesday. But when Hochul announced that she had picked the Queens-based former legislator to run as lieutenant governor early afternoon on Wednesday, the executive committee of the Kings County Democratic County Committee issued a statement hours later to rescinding its endorsement.
"There is no longer a majority of votes from the Brooklyn State Committee Members/District Leaders in the Executive Committee to support the governor's re-election," the statement said. "This is a response to the political miscalculation on the part of the governor's campaign and their failure to engage or consult Brooklyn Democratic leaders who represent New York's largest Democratic delegation."
The party had sought "meaningful collaboration" with party leaders on major statewide political decisions, but alleged that it did not receive it.
Hochul announced Adams as her pick at around 1:00pm on Wednesday: "Exciting announcement: I have a running mate," Hochul wrote on X. "I picked a New Yorker from Southeast Queens. Someone who grew up in a union household, just like I did. A fighter who knows how to deliver for New York."
At least three Brooklynites’ names had been in the mix as potential running-mate picks: Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Assemblymember Brian Cunningham and Secretary of State Walter Mosley, according to City & State.
"It is safe to conclude that the Brooklyn delegation on Friday at the State Convention will be prone to voting against or abstaining support for this ticket," the committee also said, referring to when state Democratic committee members will vote on endorsements for November’s statewide races, including those for governor, attorney general and comptroller.
Antonio Delgado, the current lieutenant governor, is running against Hochul in the primary with India Walton, a political activist from Buffalo.
Meanwhile, Hochul continues to hold a commanding lead over Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, 54-28%, little changed from 50-25% in December, according to a new Siena Poll of New York State registered voters released on Monday.
Among registered Democrats, Hochul has an overwhelming 64-11% lead over Delgado, up from 56-13% in December. Hochul’s 49-40% favorability rating, up from 43-41% in December, is the first time Hochul has hit 49% favorable, the poll found.
