NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- Mayor Eric Adams endorsed Gov. Kathy Hochul in the New York governor's race on Wednesday.
Adams endorsed Hochul at a campaign event for the governor in New York City.
"Let’s put Kathy Hochul back into the governor’s mansion," the mayor said. "I strongly endorse her as the governor."
Although belated, the endorsement wasn't much of a surprise. Hochul has worked more closely with Adams than her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, worked with former Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The governor spoke at Adams’ election night party, and the two are closely aligned on issues from subway safety to COVID-19.
Adams, a fellow Democrat who took office in January, is a former NYPD officer whose tough-on-crime message has set him apart from the city's progressives.
His endorsement comes as Hochul has pledged tougher action on gun crimes, including after the mass shooting in her hometown of Buffalo, and as she faces pushback from both Democratic and Republican challengers to do more to tackle crime.
The endorsement also comes a day before the final Democratic primary debate Thursday and just two weeks before Primary Day on June 28.
The New York Times reported that Adams held out on endorsing Hochul to possibly use the endorsement as leverage for his priorities, like speed cameras and mayoral control of schools, at the close of the legislative session in Albany.
“Governor Hochul has been a true partner, working on behalf of everyday New Yorkers — and it’s yielded real results,” Adams said in a statement to the Times ahead of the endorsement. “I look forward to continuing that work for years to come with Governor Hochul and collaborating to lift this city and state to new heights.”
The governor, who has a commanding lead in the governor’s race, doesn’t necessarily need the mayor’s endorsement. The latest Emerson College poll has her with a 57% support among likely Democratic voters in the primary, versus 17% for U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi and 6% for New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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