Although the Andrew Cuomo resignation on Tuesday came as a surprise to many who expected the New York governor to fight to the finish, it has created a world of opportunity for a cadre of others.
Politics
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will become the Governor of New York in about 14 days when Cuomo officially steps aside. Hochul has been quietly preparing for weeks for the possibility of a Cuomo resignation, however, her ascension will not be a permanent one. New York residents will need to elect a new governor in November of 2022 and, some are already licking their chops at the possibilities.
Rep. Lee Zeldin of Long Island and Andrew Giuliani (the deeply inexperienced son of Rudy Giuliani) had already planned to mount a Republican challenge against Cuomo for the governorship. However, in light of Tuesday’s resignation, several prominent Democrats are now eyeing the governor’s mansion. Let’s take a look at them:
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Bill De Blasio
Current New York City mayor Bill De Blasio will be out of a job this November thanks to required term limits. After a failed run for the presidency in 2020, don’t be surprised if De Blasio seizes the Cuomo resignation for himself and tosses his hat into the ring to become governor (although, considering his unpopularity in NYC, his chances are extremely slim).
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
AOC had been considering a 2022 challenge against Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in a bid to upgrade from the House of Representatives to the US Senate. However, the Cuomo resignation has since created an unexpected opening for the congresswoman to elevate her political resume and broaden her national reputation for future endeavors (the presidency?).
The Bernie Sanders/liberal-left wing of the Democratic Party would love to see a Gov. Ocasio-Cortez running New York State. Could it become a reality?
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Letitia James
The no-nonsense attorney general of New York Letitia James has raised her political prominence with the state investigation into Donald Trump and now, the Cuomo investigation. Although running for governor could be seen as a conflict of interest for the woman who successfully ousted Cuomo from office, a Black female governor of New York State would be a win-win and a welcomed addition in Democratic circles.
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Hillary Clinton
After multiple failed bids for the presidency, Hillary Clinton has been looking for a way to make a return to politics. Having already been a US Senator and a foreign diplomat as Secretary of State, becoming the Governor of New York in her home state would make political sense for the seasoned politician. Keep an eye on her.
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Donald Trump
Although not a Democrat, ‘The Donald’ blows with the wind and is capable of just about anything. So, don’t rule him out as someone who could run for Governor of New York under any party affiliation.
With a case arising against him from Attorney General Letitia James as well as the New York Southern District Court for tax evasion, criminal misconduct, and other charges, a Gov. Trump could come in and shut down the entire investigation against him or possibly pardon himself. Even if Trump ends up not running, he could personally benefit from a Republican replacing Cuomo in Albany. Don’t count him out as a potential candidate or election spoiler.
The New York Times: Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was wearing everyone down. He was being wronged, he railed to advisers over the weekend, and with few allies left to defend him publicly after a damning state attorney general’s report into allegations of sexual harassment, he feared voters were getting an unshakable impression, according to people with direct knowledge of his conversations. Everyone was talking about 11 women, he complained privately, but only a handful of accusations were truly damaging in a vacuum, he felt. And those he saw fit to fight. Never mind the toll that the report was having on some of those closest to Mr. Cuomo, including his brother, Chris Cuomo, the CNN host whose familial counsel on the allegations caused an outcry, and his top aide, Melissa DeRosa, who had already been considering stepping down for weeks. Never mind that a new revelation from the investigation —… Read more »