Hillary Clinton to speak at New York Democratic convention and endorse Andrew Cuomo

ALBANY -- Hillary Clinton plans to speak Wednesday at the New York Democratic convention and endorse Gov. Andrew Cuomo for a third term.

Clinton, the former New York senator and first lady, has long been an ally of Cuomo, who served in President Clinton's administration as secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Clinton plans to speak on the first day of the Democratic convention on Long Island. Cuomo is set to accept the party's nomination for the third term on Thursday.

Clinton and Cuomo live near each other in Westchester County.

“New York has led the way in fighting back against the divisive, hateful agenda of the ultra-conservatives in Washington and worked to create a fairer, more inclusive state for all,” Clinton said in a statement. 

“Working together we will elect more Democrats at every level of government to advance our shared progressive vision of equality and opportunity, and build a brighter future for generations to come."

Clinton's support comes as Cuomo faces a Democratic primary from Cynthia Nixon, the "Sex and the City" star.

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Nixon, who endorsed Clinton for president in 2016, said Monday she too will attend the Democratic convention, despite party leaders being largely behind Cuomo.

Nixon is running to Cuomo's left in the primary, and she has knocked him for not being a more progressive Democrat.

Nixon on Saturday secured the endorsement of the union-backed Working Families Party.

"I am attending the convention because New York Democrats deserve to have at least one actual Democratic candidate for governor at their state convention," Nixon said in a statement Monday.

"As Governor Cuomo has said himself, he's run this state in a way that would make any Republican proud."

But in her statement, Clinton said she looked forward to work with Cuomo in her home state "at this celebration of our Democratic values as we work to win back the U.S. House and elect a Democratic state Senate majority in New York.”