Donors encourage Kathy Hochul to run for governor

A group of New York’s most influential political donors in business are encouraging Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul to run for governor as Andrew Cuomo faces various inquiries following an official report that he allegedly sexually harassed several women.

Hochul’s conversations with financiers over the past few weeks have focused in part on his political future, including a potential gubernatorial candidacy and potentially taking over the governor’s office if Cuomo resigned or was forced to leave, said people familiar with the matter.

Those discussions took place before and after the release last week of the state attorney general’s report, Letitia James, detailing cases of alleged sexual harassment by Cuomo against at least 11 women. The governor denied any wrongdoing.

A person close to Hochul said many of these recent conversations were started by supporters. This person refused to be named in order to express himself freely.

“Everyone contacted her,” the person said. “They offer advice, and she listens.” This person said Hochul heard from state lawmakers, business leaders and other elected officials. This person also pointed out that it is the job of the lieutenant governor to be prepared to replace the governor if a transition occurs.

Hochul’s talks with donors and business leaders represent another change of fortune for Cuomo, who has amassed support – and millions of dollars – from executives during his three terms as governor of New York.

Cuomo hasn’t ruled out running again in 2022. His campaign war chest had just over $ 18 million at the end of the first half. Cuomo and Hochul are both Democrats.

State campaign finance records show the Hochul lieutenant governor’s campaign account has around $ 1.7 million. If she were to become governor before election day 2022, she would likely seek re-election for a full term in that post next year.

President Joe Biden and other Democratic Party leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have called on Cuomo to step down. Members of the New York State Assembly expect to complete the review of the evidence from their impeachment inquiry in a few weeks. Hochul a called the governor’s alleged “disgusting and illegal” behavior and said it was up to the Assembly to determine next steps.

Meanwhile, many donors who have been with Cuomo’s camp for years have not come to his defense since the report became public last week.

Weeks before the release of James’ report, John Yurtchuk, president and owner of tech company Calspan Corp. based in Buffalo, got a call from Hochul, he said in an interview Monday.

Yurtchuk said he tried to persuade Hochul to run for governor, citing what he thought at the time was going to be devastating news for Cuomo once James released his report.

“I just said, ‘You would be a great governor. I’m just letting you know, “so she knows where her supporters might be. I will fight for her,” he explained.

Yortchuk said Hochul “sort of said she heard this. She heard this from other people supporting her.” He donated $ 5,000 to Hochul’s campaign for lieutenant governor in July.

Last week, a media official and Democratic megadonator who declined to be nominated in order to speak out freely said he had heard from Hochul and assumed this conversation meant she was logging on in case she was. would become governor. Her relatives have signaled to that executive that she is ready to start raising funds for a governor’s campaign if she were to succeed Cuomo.

Jeffrey Gural, a real estate executive who has previously contributed to Cuomo’s re-election campaigns, says he spoke with Hochul before James released the report’s findings. Gural publicly turned on Cuomo late last month and donated $ 5,000 to Hochul’s re-election campaign in early July.

“I think she would do a great job replacing Andrew. I’ve known her since she ran for Congress and she will obviously have a chance to prove herself once Andrew realizes he’s done,” Gural said in an email Monday. “Prior to the report, she never mentioned running for anything other than the lieutenant governor, but I told her that I intended to attack Andrew publicly in the hope that my accusations would stand and that ‘she be ready. She laughed and I attacked her. “

Gural said Hochul only laughed because she didn’t take seriously his threat to blow Cuomo up in public.

Another longtime Cuomo donor who has also known Hochul for years is already preparing to answer his appeals if Cuomo leaves office before next year’s election.

“With her departure now (if that happens), Kathy will be in a strong position as she has several months to establish her dominance over the party before the election comes up,” the donor wrote in an email to CNBC. . “If he stayed but did not stand for re-election, his chances would be greatly reduced.”

This person declined to be named in order to avoid reprisals from the governor.