Political Update

January 25th, 2018

New York City Councilman Exploring Run for Lt. Governor

New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn) said this week that he has formed an exploratory committee to consider the possibility of challenging Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul in September’s Democratic primary.

The governor and lieutenant governor run separately in a primary in New York but the winners of the primary (if there is one) run as a team in the general election.

Williams, a progressive activist, has been an advocate for affordable housing; anti-gun violence measures; fair policing; and social justice.

Central NY IDC Member to Face Primary Challenge

On Wednesday, Rachel May announced that she will challenge State Senator David Valesky (D- Oneida) in a Democratic primary in September.  Valesky is a member of the Senate’s Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), an eight-member group that is aligned with the Republicans who control the State Senate.

May, who has never run for public office before, is a Syracuse University administrator. She is a member of True Blue NY 53, which opposes the IDC. Watch her launch video here.