What if Cuomo challenged Hochul and Staten Island seceded from NYC?
Plus, a look at food insecurity and the state's response to more college protests.
Good afternoon — it’s Thursday, and Truffle Day.
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2024
TODAY’S CAPCON:
What if Cuomo challenged Hochul in the 2026 race for governor?
And what if Staten Island broke off from New York City?
Hochul’s strategy toward protests at SUNY schools
A troubling trend for food security in New York
Thursday Reads!
🔨 Is Tomorrow a Session Day? No.
☁️ Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Partly cloudy, low 50s. New York City: Mostly clear, high 50s. (National Weather Service)
☑️ What if Cuomo challenged Hochul in the 2026 race for governor?
🕕 At least one person doesn’t give a hoot if the former governor tries to win the office back.
Since former Gov. Andrew M. CUOMO resigned nearly three years ago amidst allegations of sexual misconduct, there’s been an important question on the minds of many.
What, exactly, will Andrew Cuomo do now? Maybe he doesn’t even know yet.
A steady stream of donors has continued to contribute to his campaign account since he stepped down, but Cuomo has announced no plans to seek office.
Several give more than $100 to Cuomo each month, sometimes more often.
But there are also plenty of one-offs from other folks.
Cuomo still pays some of his former staff.
Stephanie Benton, a close aide, is paid from his campaign account.
And he’s a paying client of Bulldog Strategies, a firm launched by his former senior adviser Rich Azzopardi. The purpose of those payments is listed as “campaign consultant.”
But Cuomo has no campaign for him to be consulted on just yet. That doesn’t mean he won’t run for something, but what that something is has yet to be seen.
It’s been suggested he’ll run for New York City mayor next year. Others have said he’ll wait until 2026 and challenge Hochul in a primary.
For now, his campaign account remains “undeclared.”
Gov. Kathy HOCHUL has said she plans to run for another term, though recent poll numbers show she might have to do more to win approval from voters in 2026.
That’s more than two years away, but Hochul was asked Thursday how she would feel about an election between her and her predecessor.
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