Coming out the Democratic State Convention last month, where she received more than 85% of the vote from the party faithful, Gov. Hochul has been focused on her job, and has opted not to run TV ads just yet.

She faces a primary challenge from Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who has failed to break out of the single digits according to polls, and Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-New York, who has fared better than Williams, but not much.

Suozzi has been running ads.

“Everything I have done in my career has prepared me for this particular job at this particular time,” Suozzi narrates.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Hochul faces election as governor for the first time in the June primary

  • So far this calendar year, Hochul has declined to run any ads familiarizing voters with her record. At least one opponent has taken to the airwaves

  • Hochul said she is not focused on the campaign at all, just on governing

Even former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who Hochul succeeded when he resigned in a sexual harassment scandal last year, has been running ads – although his intentions remain murky.

“I haven’t been perfect. I’ve made mistakes. But I’ve also made a difference,” said the former Governor.

Hochul says she is not focused at all on the campaign right now.

“I’m here to talk about government,” Hochul said at a government event on Manhattan’s west side. “But I feel very confident about our ability to connect with New Yorkers. And when I’m done with my budget, I’m not on the campaign side, I’ve got a state to govern. We are going to get the budget done. And the budget is going to be responsive to the needs in the post pandemic period. That is one hundred percent of my occupation right now, and we will let the campaign unfold in the near future.”

But some Democrats are privately asking why Hochul isn’t more focused on using ads to put her into the minds of voters. She has never been elected governor and there is a belief that some voters are unfamiliar with her record.

Others say she should wait until closer to the June 28th primary to blitz the air waves. Hochul has raised more than $20 million.

“For her to hold fire at this point and wait until we get a little closer when voters are thinking about things other than Ukraine or the price of fuel at the pump, I think that makes sense at this point,” said Lee Miringoff of the Marist College Poll.

Critics said there have been other missteps for Hochul, like holding events this week behind closed doors, and dropping the puck at the Rangers game Tuesday night, which was met with "boos" from the crowd.

“Please welcome Gov. Kathy Hochul,” the announcer said, which was met with a chorus of "boos" from the audience.

The state budget is expected to be finalized in the next two weeks. If some of the big proposals remain in that budget, including an idea for universal childcare, Hochul will be able to take a victory tour and promote those accomplishments, something her primary opponents will not be able to do.