NY – Brooklyn Democrats Re-Endorse Governor Hochul

2026-02-09 - 13:07

The Brooklyn Democratic Party has reinstated its endorsement of Governor Kathy Hochul’s reelection campaign, reversing its decision just two days after briefly withdrawing support amid tensions over her choice of running mate. According to Spectrum News NY1, the party’s executive committee reaffirmed its backing on Friday following outreach from the governor, signaling a renewed effort to present a united front ahead of the election. The initial rupture emerged after Hochul announced former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her prospective lieutenant governor without prior consultation with Brooklyn Democratic leadership. Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, and other local party leaders reportedly felt sidelined by the decision. Bichotte Hermelyn later raised concerns about Adams’ electoral strength, pointing to the former speaker’s fourth-place finish in the New York City mayoral primary as evidence that the selection might not energize voters or expand the ticket’s appeal. In a statement released Friday, however, the party’s executive committee indicated that discussions with Hochul had helped ease tensions. The statement emphasized unity and shared priorities, noting that members were now “prepared to move forward in unity and support Gov. Hochul in our shared efforts to win back the House and ensure Democratic leadership remains strong across New York.” The renewed endorsement underscores the importance of party cohesion as Democrats look to consolidate support statewide ahead of the upcoming election cycle.