Elected Democrats in New York are deeply divided over supporting President Biden’s re-election bid.
The split is perhaps best illustrated by Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is with Biden, and Lieutenant Gov. Antonio Delgado, who thinks the president should throw in the towel.
What You Need To Know
- Gov. Kathy Hochul has been a top Biden supporter, with the president helping her struggling gubernatorial campaign in 2022
- Hochul revealed she learned about Lt. Gov. Delgado’s plans to call for Biden to end his presidential campaign while in transit to a veterans event in Westchester on Wednesday afternoon
- While the governor tried to discourage a presentation of dissent, other Democrats in the room Thursday expressed concern over a lack of unity
“It’s not a surprise that there are various voices that have emerged with different opinions within the Democratic party,” Hochul said during a press conference Thursday from her Manhattan-based office. She was responding to the news that the man she appointed as her number two announced he has lost confidence in Biden.
“I stand firmly with the president. The last time I met with him personally, he said he is in this race,” Hochul said.
Hochul has been a top Biden supporter and the president also helped her struggling gubernatorial campaign in 2022, when he appeared at the 11th hour during a Yonkers-based campaign event.
“I will just tell you what I have seen myself — I saw nothing to be concerned about in terms of his ability to make sure that we are victorious against Donald Trump in November. That is my laser focus,” Hochul said.
The governor revealed she learned about Delgado’s plans to call for Biden to end his presidential campaign while in transit to a veterans event in Westchester on Wednesday afternoon.
“I don’t want to divulge private conversations, but I did get a heads up,” Hochul said.
Hochul asked her communications aide Avi Small if she looked furious when she got the news. Small shook his head no.
While the governor tried to discourage a presentation of dissent, other Democrats in the room Thursday expressed concern over a lack of unity.
Longtime Manhattan Democrat City Councilwoman Gale Brewer said she disagreed with Delgado’s approach.
“I may say something privately, but I don’t say it publicly. I think it was wrong what he did,” she said.
“I don’t think it’s necessary for everybody to offer their opinions at this stage. We have a candidate and he will decide what he wants to do. Period,” Assemblyman Jeffery Dinowitz, a Democrat from the Bronx, said.
“I’m very worried about the whole national scene. We have to get it together,” Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, a Democrat from Manhattan, said.
New York Democrats say they hope their national counterparts can regain some steam ahead of next month’s national Democratic Convention.
“We should all rally behind the president at this point. It’s very close to the convention and I think the key is to beat Donald Trump and we can do that if we all stay together and support the ticket,” Queens Democrat David Weprin, also an elected Biden delegate, said.
A spokesman for Delgado did not comment on Hochul’s explanation Thursday.