Mayor Eric Adams is expected to endorse Gov. Kathy Hochul in the Democratic primary, sources confirmed to NY1 Tuesday.
In an appearance on “Mornings On 1” Wednesday morning, NY1’s Pat Kiernan asked Adams whether he planned to endorse Hochul at a campaign rally he was set to attend.
“Stay tuned,” Adams responded, but went on to praise the governor’s leadership.
“New Yorkers witnessed over COVID, the tension between the executives in both the city and state. When you look at how we are navigating our way out of COVID, how you see increasing ridership in our commuter rails, how you’re seeing passing some very difficult — when I left Albany, people told me it was not possible to pass even some of the criminal justice reforms we were looking for,” he said.
“She has really assisted in doing so, and you know, we want to continue our partnership,” he added.
Asked to explain why Adams did not endorse Hochul sooner, the mayor said he was “caught up with budgets” — and focused on combating crime and COVID-19.
“This is the right time. We’re near the election day, and we’re going to get out the votes,” he said.
Adams spoke with Hochul’s Democratic primary rival, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, about his support for her this past weekend, he said.
“Jumaane, I think, serves a real role as a public advocate. He brings a vision to what he believes that office should do,” the mayor said. “But I believe that we’re making the right decision.”
Adams and Hochul have had a much less contentious relationship than their predecessors, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, but Adams’ endorsement comes later than many prominent New York Democrats who have already lined up behind the governor ahead of the June 28 primary.
The pair spoke on Hochul’s first day in office last August and Hochul attended and spoke at Adams’ November election night party. The two have shared the stage many times since then, from announcing a subway safety plan together during Adams’ first week in office to Hochul’s signing of a housing bill championed by Adams earlier this month.
The New York Times was the first to report the endorsement.