With Hochul’s New Pick for Lt. Gov. in Limbo, Biaggi and Bowman Endorse Archila

State Senator and Congressional candidate Alessandra Biaggi, left, with Congressman Jamaal Bowman right, and Lt. Governor candidate Ana Maria Archila, 2nd left

With NY state legislators moving closer to passing a law that allows politicians indicted for a crime to remove themselves from the ballot of their party, two progressive democrats from Westchester have already endorsed another candidate for Lt. Governor.

The current NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, resigned after being indicted by the US Attorney for corruption last month. Gov. Kathy Hochul remains without a Lt. Gov, but more concerning for her campaign is the fact that Benjamin’s name will remain on the ballot for the demoratic primary in June, unless a law is passed this week to allow his removal.

State Senator and Congressional candidate Alessandra Biaggi, and Congressman Jamaal Bowman, endorsed Ana Maria Archila for Lt. Governor on April 21. Archila, a progressive democrat, is running with the support and endorsement from the Working Familes Party, with Jumaane Williams, candidate for Governor. Both Archila and Williams are running in the democratic primary as well as the WFP primary.

Calling Archila, “the peoples chamption,” Biaggi posted, “We are thrilled to be able to support someone who actually cares about the people, and who won’t treat the role of Lt. Gov. like a cheerleader. She will fight for housing and child care, and she will lead from a place of love as an advocate for the people.”

Congressman Bowman joined Biaggi and Archila at an event in Mount Vernon, and later posted, “Honored to endorse Ana Maria for New York for Lt. Governor of NY. Our state needs someone committed to the people and their causes and in Ana, we have that!”

Archila emigrated to the U.S. from Columbia at age 17, and has lived in New York City. One of her claims to fame is a confrontation in the elevator of the US Senate during the hearings for Supreme Court Justice Bret Kavanaugh. Archila confronted Senator Jeff Flake and the resulting video spread across the country and the internet.

The other two candiates for Gov. and Lt. Gov. in the democratic party are Tom Suozzi for Governor, and Diane Reyna for Lt. Governor. Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin picked Alison Esposito as his Lt. Gov.

Candidates for Lt. Gov. are elected separately on the ballot, so in the upcoming democratic and republican primaries, voters will select their choice for Gov. and for Lt. Gov.