Today is August 6, 2021, and Andrew Cuomo is still the Governor of the State of New York. All of the Democrats that we have spoken to, in Westchester County New York and beyond, believe that Cuomo is a “politically dead man walking” as one elected democrat told us.
So its only a matter of time before Andrew submits his resignation. Perhaps its before the Assembly formally begins its impeachment proceedings. Or maybe its when a poll shows that a majority of NY Democrats support his resignation and departure. Or perhaps if there is someone in his inner circle, (maybe his brother Chris?) who can tell him that “the time to go is now,” as Westchester State Senator Shelley Mayer said.
New York Democrats are already trying to look ahead to November 2022 and the next race for Governor, expecting that Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul will be Governor Kathy Hochul at that time. And Hochul could certainly be the democratic nominee, as could be Attorney General Leticia James, who just announced the independent report confirming the sexual harrassment of 11 women by Cuomo.
But the one name that has everyone talkking about is Westchester’s own Hillary Clinton. The former First Lady, U.S. Senator from New York, Secretary of State and two time Presidential candidate, is still in the news every now and then. Last month, she appeared at the Generation Equality Forum in Paris France and also penned an op-ed urging Americans to fight back against attempt by republicans to limit voting access.
Jerry Kremer, an attorney, lobbyist, and former 13-term Democratic Long Island assemblyman, shared his thought and tossed out Hillary’s name as a possible replacement for Andrew Cuomo next year. Appearing on the PIX11 Morning News August 5, Kremer said, “Some of the party elders are said to be approaching former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to ask her if she’d run,” Kremer said, adding that while it would be a surprise and that Clinton herself has not indicated an interest in running, he believes the allure of a “grand return” to politics could be very tempting. “To rule her out at this point in time would probably be premature,” Kremer added.
Kremer tossed out six other names of New York Democrats, some obvious, like Attorney General Letitia James and New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, and some other possiblle long shots, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Long Island Congressman Thomas Suozzi, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.
Yes, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano’s name has been thrown into the mix for Governor. Spano was previously believed to be a possible Lt. Governor candidate running with AG James, or Lt. Gov. Hochul. But everyone would have to take a back seat to Hillary.
The “get out of the way for Hillary” dynamic occured in the year 2000, when New York’s Senior US Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Westchester’s Congresswoman Nita Lowey was set to run for the seat and move up from the House, but stepped aside as Bill and Hillary moved to Westchester, and HRC ran and won.
