NY – Hochul Taps Former NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as Running Mate

2026-02-05 - 16:48

Governor Kathy Hochul has selected former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate, a decision aimed at strengthening regional balance and consolidating Democratic support as Hochul seeks a second full term. Adams, 65, concluded her tenure as Council speaker in December after four years at the helm of New York City’s legislative body. Like Hochul, she is viewed as a political moderate, but her addition to the ticket brings significant name recognition and influence in Southeast Queens, a key Democratic stronghold. Hochul, who hails from Buffalo, announced the pick on Wednesday, describing Adams as a determined leader who would stand firm against President Donald Trump. The Hochul–Adams ticket makes history as the first all-woman gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial slate to run on a major party line in New York. In a statement, Hochul praised Adams’ record in city government, citing her leadership on issues such as housing affordability, protections for working families, investments in education, and efforts to safeguard New York City from harmful policies. Adams said she was honored by the selection. Her appointment follows months of deliberation in which Hochul considered several Black and Hispanic officials with strong ties to New York City. Under a recently enacted state law, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor now run as a unified ticket in both the June Democratic primary and the November general election. Hochul and Adams are expected to be formally endorsed together at the Democratic Party’s state convention in Syracuse this week. Political analyst Basil Smikle, a Columbia University professor and former executive director of the New York State Democratic Party, said Adams could play a critical role in energizing Black voters in Queens and Nassau County. He noted that governors often look for running mates who can both reinforce and expand their electoral base while the governor focuses on governing. The choice, however, has not been universally welcomed within the party. Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn criticized the decision, calling it a misstep and arguing that Hochul failed to adequately consult party leaders in Kings County. She suggested that Brooklyn delegates at the state convention may withhold or abstain from supporting the ticket. If elected, Adams would become Hochul’s third lieutenant governor. Hochul’s first appointee, Brian Benjamin, resigned following a bribery arrest; the charges were later dropped after a key witness died. Hochul later selected former U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado as her 2022 running mate, but Delgado broke with the governor last year and is now challenging her in the Democratic primary. Delgado announced Wednesday that India Walton, a nurse and former Buffalo mayoral candidate aligned with democratic socialist politics, will be his running mate. Delgado praised Walton’s passion and moral clarity, saying those qualities define their campaign. On the Republican side, party leaders have coalesced around Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman as their preferred gubernatorial nominee. His campaign is considering several potential running mates, including Erie County Sheriff John Garcia, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, and attorney Bobbie Anne Cox. Garcia has declined interest, while representatives for McLaughlin and Cox did not immediately respond to inquiries. Blakeman campaign spokesperson Madison Spanodemos criticized Adams’ record, pointing to her support for a 2020 New York City budget that reduced NYPD funding amid nationwide protests over the murder of George Floyd, as well as a 2023 budget agreement that allocated billions for migrant shelter and food services. Spanodemos said Blakeman is confident his eventual running mate will be prepared to govern from the outset, adding that Adams will not be part of the Republican ticket. The Republican Party’s state convention is scheduled for next week.