What Does it Mean for Westchester Politics?
By Dan Murphy
News 12 report Tara Rosenblum broke the news on Nov. 1 that Westchester State Senator Shelley Mayer will announce later this week that she is a candidate for NY Attorney General. Sen. Mayer’s announcement comes three days after the current NY AG Letitia James, announced her candidacy for Governor next year, in 2022.
James’ decision to run for Governor means that she will not seek re-election as Attorney General. And while Mayer got out of the gate first by announcing her run for Attorney General, she is expected to have a lot of company in the democratic primary for AG.
One name prominently mentioned by Westchester democratic insiders is State Senator Mike Gianaris. Sen. Gianaris, from Queens, currently serves as Deputy Majority Leader to Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
Gianaris has long wanted to run for and serve as NYAG. “I love the job that Shelley has done for Westchester in the State Senate, but making a run for Attorney General will be tough. It will raise her profile but, Gianaris wants to be AG badly. The only question is can a white male get elected statewide as a democrat anymore?” said one dem insider.
Another Westchester democrat said that “Shelley can expect a challenge from Long Island for Attorney General. Congressmember Kathleen Rice and Congressmember Tom Suozzi are two names that come to mind quickly who want to be AG. And if you give me a day I can give you a dozen more.”
If Sen. Mayer were able to secure the democratic nomination for AG, it would set up another round of political musical chairs in Westchester for her Senate seat. “There are at least a dozen democrats who would love to have the democratic line for Shelley’s senate seat. It starts with Mayor Spano in Yonkers and continues north to include Assemblymembers Steve Otis, Amy Paulin, Noam Bramson and more.”
Many Yonkers democrats had hoped that Sen. Mayer would return to Yonkers and run for Mayor in 2023, with the slogan already set-Mayer for Mayor. Some believe that dream may still happen. “Maybe Shelley is tossing her hat in the ring for AG as a way to build her gravitas and intimidate any democrats from challenging her for State Senate next year, but also to put her name on top of the list for Yonkers Mayor in two years.”
But what if Sen. Mayer dreams the impossible dream and it comes true. She is the next AG. Her senate seats opens up and sound shore democrats and yonkers democrats duke it out. But who becomes the next Mayor of Yonkers?
Without Mayer on the list for Yonkers Mayor, the two primary names are City Councilmembers Corazon Pineda-Isaac and John Rubbo. Both are also rumored to be running for City Council Majority leader next year; Pineda-Isaac currently holds the post.
The only other name for Yonkers Mayor out there is …..wait for it, yes a Fourth Term for Mayor Mike Spano. Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins wants to stay where he is and run for County Executive in four years. Mayor Spano is also eyeing a run for County Executive, but would be out of office for two years in between.
One thing we heard again and again from Westchester democrats was their love for Shelley Mayer, and not an unkind word. Whether that Westchester democratic love translates into a run for statewide office is another matter.
