Several New York Democrats are considering running for governor as Andrew Cuomo comes under mounting pressure from within his own party to resign after several women accused him of sexual harassment, CNBC informed.
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., among others, have been engaging with supporters and party leaders to discuss potentially running for governor in 2022, according to people familiar with the matter.
Their representatives did not deny such conversations were taking place.
Several party donors, meanwhile, are starting to look to New York Lieutenant Gov. Kathy Hochul as a potential strong contender for a 2022 bid for reelection if Cuomo is forced out of Albany, according to others briefed on the matter.
These conversations come as Cuomo’s political future hangs in the balance. Nearly 60 New York state Democratic lawmakers have called for Cuomo’s resignation, after an aide to the governor reportedly accused him of groping her, the latest in a series of sexual harassment allegations.
A longtime Democratic fundraiser told CNBC that he and members of his extensive network are planning to reach out to Hochul next week “just to touch base” in the wake of the latest Cuomo allegations. These types of conversations between donors and politicians are sometimes used to start a relationship before the financiers move ahead to support them.
People who are aware of these discussions declined to be named in order to speak freely about ongoing deliberations. Nobody has moved ahead with forming a campaign. Cuomo has previously said he plans to run for a fourth term next year.
While New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has publicly not ruled out running for governor, his spokesman Bill Neidhardt told CNBC that he hasn’t been privately discussing the possible move with allies. De Blasio, a longtime adversary of Cuomo’s, has also called for the governor’s resignation.
“He has not been discussing the idea. A lot of reporters do seem to be having fun talking about it, and I think that’s great,” Neidhardt said.
However, supporters of the mayor told CNBC that de Blasio has discussed the idea of running.
When asked whether de Blasio not ruling out a run during a recent press conference was the first time he ever discussed running for governor, Neidhardt responded: “He said he’s focused on the pandemic and economic recovery in front of him. Very important stuff.”
Cuomo has denied the latest allegation and has apologized for his past behavior, although he has stopped short of resigning. New York state Attorney General Letitia James has organized an independent investigation into the claims against Cuomo.
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