ALBANY — New York Republicans, who haven’t won a statewide race since 2002, were still unsettled as of Sunday evening over who they will nominate for two key positions at their party convention this week.
While Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro will be the candidate for governor and former Rye city councilwoman Julie Killian his running mate, the party was still waiting to hear Sunday whether John Cahill, a former top official to ex-Gov. George Pataki, will run for attorney general after two-term incumbent Democrat Eric Schneiderman recently resigned in disgrace.
There has also been growing backlash among Republican county chairmen against Jonathan Trichter, a registered Democrat who had been seen as the likely GOP candidate for state controller. Several GOPers complained he’s done little until recently to push his candidacy since announcing his run.
“I don’t really envision Tricther being the nominee,” one prominent GOP county leader said.
If Cahill, who lost to Schneiderman in 2014, decides to run, he is virtually guaranteed the nomination at the state party convention set to be held in New York City on Wednesday and Thursday. If he doesn’t, the party will have to decide between lawyer Keith Wofford, a partner at Ropes & Gray, corporate lawyer Manny Alicandro or Rockland County Attorney Thomas Humbach.
“Obviously Schneiderman’s resignation was a surprise, but the party is excited by the opportunity it has presented,” said state GOP spokeswoman Jessica Proud.
Cahill’s decision could also have a domino effect. Republican insiders say if he runs, Alicandro could shift from the attorney general’s race to the controller’s contest. Another controller possibility mentioned is J.G. Collins, managing director of The Stuyvesant Square Consultancy.
But swapping out Tricther could set up an ugly showdown with the small but influential state Conservative Party.
While Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long likes Cahill and Alicandro for attorney general, he called Trichter the most qualified candidate for controller. He said his party would likely stick with Trichter even if it means splitting the vote with a separate Republican candidate. A Republican has not won statewide without Conservative Party backing since 1974.
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President Trump’s expected appearance in Nassau County on Wednesday, on the same day state Democrats begin their nominating convention nearby at Hofstra University, hardly has the Dems concerned.
“We couldn’t have scripted this better,” said Gov. Cuomo campaign spokeswoman Abbey Fashouer. “This is a reminder of who the real threat is and why we all need to be standing together.”
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Some of the state’s top Democrats have still not endorsed Gov. Cuomo heading into this week’s Democratic state convention.
Representatives for U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, state Controller Thomas DiNapoli, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and state Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins had no comment Sunday when asked who their bosses are supporting for governor.
While it’s expected the Democratic leaders will back Cuomo at the party convention, it has raised some eyebrows that to date they have not weighed in on a two-term incumbent fellow Democrat.
Cuomo is being challenged from the left in the Democratic primary by actress Cynthia Nixon.
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Some past supporters of Fordham Law Prof. Zephyr Teachout, who lost to Gov. Cuomo four years ago in the Democratic primary, are urging that she not run a primary race for attorney general this year against city Public Advocate Letitia James.
“It looks terrible,” said one Teachout backer. “A) she is going to lose and B) she’s going to run against the first black woman ever to run for attorney general. It’s not a good visual.”
Teachout, who couldn’t be reached for comment, has said she is seriously considering a run, but hasn’t made up her mind. She did file the 10 signatures needed to get nominated at the Democratic convention.
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Nixon’s gubernatorial campaign is beefing up its communication staff, hiring Lauren Hitt as its chief spokeswoman.
Hitt served as Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kennedy’s communications director and worked for Democrat Randy Bryce, who is seeking retiring Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan’s Wisconsin seat.
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With the battle for control of the state Senate heating up, the Democrats on Monday will report having about $700,000 on hand after spending approximately $1 million in a recent special election in Westchester County that they won.
That’s about half a million more than at this point two years ago heading into election season following a key special election on Long Island.
“Everything is pointing in the right direction for us,” said Sen. Michael Gianaris, the Queens Democrat who heads his conference’s campaign committee.
Gianaris argued the Dems this year have reduced the fund-raising gap with the GOP and are one win away from having a “functioning majority.” He also noted that five Republican incumbents have announced they are not seeking reelection.
Senate Republican spokesman Scott Reif, who declined to say how much the GOP will report having on hand on Monday, said “we are confident we will maintain the majority.”
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Former longtime Rep. Charles Rangel is backing a primary challenge from the left against Bronx state Sen. Jeffrey Klein, who until recently headed a breakaway group of Democrats that were aligned with the Republicans for years.
Rangel is backing Alessandra Biaggi, a former counsel to Gov. Cuomo and who is the granddaughter of late Rep. Mario Biaggi, who resigned his seat in 1988 amid a corruption scandal that sent him to prison.
“To now hear Sen. Klein talk about ‘Democratic unity’ — after years of betraying Democratic priorities and empowering Republicans — is frankly ludicrous and outrageous,” Rangel said.
Klein spokeswoman Barbara Brancaccio called the endorsement “just politics as usual” as Klein endorsed Rangel’s primary opponent and successor Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan).
Klein is getting an endorsement Monday from the influential Hotel and Motel Trade Council.
“Jeff Klein is a proven leader, who fights tirelessly — and delivers — for labor and all of New York’s working families,” union president Peter Ward said. “We need his continued leadership in Albany.”
