Cynthia Nixon, the Sex and the City actress and activist, is challenging incumbent New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, shaking up an otherwise sleepy Democratic primary race. That’s less because of Nixon’s celebrity and more because she’s mounting a campaign against the governor from the left, setting up a blue-state showdown that reflects some of the deeper tensions within the Democratic Party in the state.
Cuomo, a two-term incumbent, is a skilled operator hailing from one of New York’s most famous political families. He has a deep war chest for his reelection campaign. He rarely avoids an opportunity to criticize Trump. He’s also championed liberal policies, particularly in his second term, such as paid family leave and a $15 minimum wage.
But Cuomo — who possibly has political ambitions beyond the governorship — is still perceived as being somewhat vulnerable from the left, as his brand of transactional politics sometimes feels out of place in an era of growing Democratic activism.
Nixon’s candidacy so far has targeted Cuomo’s weak spots both locally and statewide, from the city’s subway crisis to the corruption scandals that have continued to plague Albany, the state’s capital.
Cuomo has earned the endorsement of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), who will also be on the ballot this year. Gillibrand, widely rumored to be a 2020 hopeful, is running unopposed in the primary.
Also on the ballot will be Democrats running to replace a progressive champion of women’s rights, Louise Slaughter, who died earlier this year at the age of 88.
New York voters reject some Democrats who broke off to give state Senate control to the Republicans
Sen. Jeff Klein, leader of the now-disbanded Independent Democratic Conference. AP Photo/Mike GrollDemocratic voters got payback in the New York state primary on Thursday against some of the renegade Democrats who broke away from their party and allied themselves with Republicans in New York’s state Senate.
Six of the eight members of the now-disbanded Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) have lost against more progressive challengers. That includes the powerful leader of the group, Sen. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx), who was unseated by challenger Alessandra Biaggi, a lawyer who worked on Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
Read Article >Andrew Cuomo has won himself another term, but his presidential aspirations are dead
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo during a debate with primary opponent Cynthia Nixon in August. Craig Ruttle (Pool)/Getty ImagesNew York Gov. Andrew Cuomo sealed a large primary victory over progressive challenger Cynthia Nixon Thursday night. But for a man who’s long had his eye on higher office, it’s fair to say those presidential hopes are now doomed.
A 30-point margin of victory (as of press time) in a primary would be extremely impressive for a professional politician running in a contested open primary against another political pro.
Read Article >New York special elections live results: Democrats win open state Senate seats
Joe Sohm/Getty ImagesA special election Tuesday in New York decided the fates of 11 open seats in the state legislature — including two key Democratic victories in the state Senate.
Democrat Luis Sepulveda easily won his race in the 32nd District in the Bronx, where he was heavily favored.
Read Article >New York’s special election has already been decided by one rogue Democrat
Sen. Simcha Felder. Hans Pennink/APDemocrats hoped Tuesday’s special election could finally give them control of the state’s upper chamber — and full control of the state government. But one New York state senator determined the balance of power in Albany before the polls even closed.
Victories in two state Senate districts — one in a deep blue area, the other in a swing suburban district — would have handed Democrats a 32-31 numerical majority in the 63-seat Senate. But real power depended on the decision of a rogue Democratic state senator, Simcha Felder.
Read Article >New York’s special election could put the state under full Democratic control
New York state Senate, June 2011. Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty ImagesA special election in New York on April 24 could tip the state Senate back to the Democrats — putting the party in full control of state government.
But a lot has to happen for New York to turn truly blue, and the outcome depends as much on which voters turn out for an off-year local race as it does on backroom Albany dealmaking. Thanks to a single rogue Democratic senator who votes with Republicans, a numerical majority for Democrats still might not translate into the ability to pass Democratic bills — unless, after the election, he decides to rejoin the caucus.
Read Article >Cynthia Nixon has already shaken up the New York governor’s race
Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for We Stand UnitedCynthia Nixon, the Sex and the City actress and activist, declared her challenge against incumbent New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo almost a month ago, and since then she’s managed to shake up what should have been a sleepy Democratic primary race.
Nixon has tried to make it clear she’s not just a celebrity candidate, visiting public housing residents in Brooklyn and meeting with residents upstate in Hoosick Falls about contaminated water. She’s gained significant ground in recent polls, though Cuomo still has a commanding lead.
Read Article >Actress Cynthia Nixon is running for governor in New York
Cindy Ord/Getty Images for We Stand UnitedSex and the City actress and activist Cynthia Nixon is running for governor of New York, staging a high-profile Democratic primary challenge against two-term incumbent Andrew Cuomo.
Nixon’s announcement has been teased for months, but she made it official on Monday with the release of her first campaign ad.
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