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NY Governor Kathy Hochul hosted some refugees from Texas, who happened to be state legislators, in Albany yesterday. She also wrote a op-ed in the Houston Chronicle:
Americans are done with the cruelty, chaos and cowardice they have witnessed since 2025 began. They’re ready to vote Republicans out — and Republicans know it. That’s why they’re rigging the game before the next whistle blows.
But we can’t let them get away with it without a fight. Not on my watch.
If you refuse to fight for democracy, you’re doomed to lose it. I didn’t get into public service to lose. I got in to fight and to win on behalf of the people I serve.
To every Texan standing up to Trump and Abbott’s scheme, you’re on the right side of history. We’re proud to stand with you.
To the rest of America, don’t be afraid to join this fight. If they rewrite the rules, then so will we.
All’s fair in love and war. Bring it on.
Good. The politics of this are difficult, as are all New York politics, but my guess is the following:
The Mamdani win has her shaken, as does her mediocre win in 2024, as does the terrible showing in the 2024 election by New York Democratic candidates for House.
NY AG Tish James, most likely primary opponent to Hochul in 2026, endorsed Mamdani and campaigned for him; Hochul has not yet endorsed Mamdani.
Hochul name-checked Hakeem Jeffries in the op-ed posted above, so she’s clearly still allied with the downstate machine, as is Jeffries.
Congestion pricing, which she was afraid of and initially wanted to delay, has turned out to be a big win for her, and she was popular when defending it against the Trump Administration. Being popular is good (water is wet, etc.)
Hochul is still relying on the support of the NY downstate machine, but she realizes that she can only be popular if she fights. So, here’s a fight, and she’s pretty good when she fights. She was also good on reproductive rights. Her issues in 2026 are that the machine can’t run campaigns for shit, Tish James is an obvious, proven fighter, and she has a track record of bad political judgment.
I still can’t get over how the NY Dems are making the endorsement of Mamdani such an open, ulcerated sore. After being told, over and over, to eat shit and vote for unappealing candidates because they have a “D” after their name, I have a hard time with Jeffries, Schumer, Gillibrand and Hochul’s non-endorsement, especially when accompanied by the asinine “I don’t really know him” talking point. All they need to know is that he’s the party’s nominee. JFC. It’s de-facto support for Cuomo, which is unacceptable. They think they’re going to pull an India Walton this Fall, but New York City ain’t Buffalo.
Also, as usual, Pritzker gets it:
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