Exclusive interview with Hochul
FOX 5 NY’s political reporter Morgan McKay sits down for an exclusive interview with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who discusses her recent State of the State address, potentially raising taxes and Trump’s threats to cut funding to sanctuary cities.
NEW YORK – Over 50 Westchester leaders have endorsed New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s reelection campaign, FOX 5 NY’s political reporter Morgan McKay reports.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 25: New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during a brief press conference as she prepares to hand out Thanksgiving food at Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Community Center on November 25, 2025 in New York City. Hochul, Rep. A
Westchester leaders endorse Hochul
What we know:
The following leaders have endorsed Hochul for her reelection campaign:
Congressman George LatimerSen. Shelley MayerSen. Pete HarckhamRep. Amy PaulinRep. J. Gary PretlowRep. Nader SayeghRep. Steve OtisRep. MaryJane ShimskyRep. Chris BurdickRep. Dana LevenbergWestchester County Executive Ken JenkinsWestchester County Board of Legislators Chair Vedat GashiWestchester County Board of Legislators Vice Chair Terry ClementsWestchester County Board of Legislators Majority Leader Judah HolsteinWestchester County Clerk Tom RoachWestchester County Legislator Colin SmithWestchester County Legislator Erika PierceWestchester County Legislator Nancy BarrWestchester County Legislator Anant NambiarWestchester County Legislator Jewel Williams JohnsonWestchester County Legislator David ImamuraWestchester County Legislator Tyrae Woodson-SamuelsWestchester County Legislator David TubioloWestchester County Legislator José AlvaradoPeekskill Councilmember Darren RiggerPeekskill Councilmember Beverley ChangPeekskill Councilmember Brian FassettPeekskill Councilmember Kathleen TalbotPeekskill Councilmember Charles DiGruccioPeekskill Mayor Vivian McKenziePeekskill Deputy Mayor Patricia RileyWhite Plains Mayor Justin BraschMount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-HowardNew Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-HerbertYonkers Mayor Mike SpanoSleepy Hollow Mayor Marjorie HsuMamaroneck Mayor Sharon TorresMount Kisco Village Trustee Heather BryantMount Kisco Village Trustee Thomas G. LuzioGreenburgh Town Council Member Ellen HendrixCortlandt Supervisor Richard BeckerMamaroneck Supervisor Jaine Elkind EneyGreenburgh Supervisor Paul FeinerOssining Supervisor Elizabeth FeldmanLewisboro Supervisor Tony GoncalvesRye Supervisor Gary ZuckermanYonkers City Councilmember Tasha DiazYonkers City Councilmember Tim HodgesYonkers City Councilmember Deana NormanMajority Leader of the Yonkers City Council John RubboYonkers City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy
What they’re saying:
The Westchester leaders endorsing the governor also released this joint statement:
“Westchester has seen firsthand Governor Kathy Hochul’s commitment to delivering for families in the Hudson Valley and beyond. Her work on Penn Station and Metro-North putting commuters first, investing in our clean water infrastructure and strengthening local hospitals has strengthened our economy and improved Westchester families’ quality of life across the board.Â
This governor understands what our communities need to thrive, and every single day that chaos and disarray come out of Washington, she stands up to Donald Trump’s attacks on New York and puts us first. We’re proud to endorse Governor Hochul for re-election this year.”
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Hochul released her own statement in response to the support:
“I’m deeply grateful for the support of these Westchester leaders, who know what it means to deliver real results for their communities. From expanding Metro-North access and investing in energy resiliency to making New York safer and more affordable for working families, we’ve made real progress together – but there’s still more work to do. With partners like these, I’m excited to keep building a stronger future for the Hudson Valley and for all New Yorkers.”Â
The other side:
These endorsements come as some Democratic leaders pressure Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who entered the gubernatorial race in June 2025, to drop out of the primary.
Politics Unusual: Mayor Eric Adams, Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado
In this week’s episode of Politics Unusual, FOX 5 NY’s Morgan McKay speaks with New York City Mayor Eric Adams about his new bill proposal that would that would allow officers to forcibly remove people with drug addictions off the streets without their consent and commit them into hospitals for treatment. Also, a conversation with Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado’s plan to challenge Governor Kathy Hochul in the gubernatorial primary next year.
Those who support Delgado say his presence in the race keeps the conversation focused on more progressive policies.
The Delgado campaign sent a few quotes to McKay in response.
“Calling a primary a ‘waste of resources’ says more about how disconnected party leadership has become than anything else,” Sen. Jabari Brisport stated.Â
“The real waste is years of half-measures while working people struggle to afford rent, childcare, and healthcare. We need to send Antonio to Albany so we can actually tax the rich and make childcare truly universal and housing available for all New Yorkers.”
Lt. Gov. Delgado will not run for re-election
Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado confirmed on Monday that he will not run for re-election on the ticket with Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2026. Delgado, who was appointed to the role in 2022, said he will serve out his current term, which runs until January 2027.
Rep. Emily Gallagher said, “For too long, New York politics has been dominated by the idea that party insiders get to decide who runs and who doesn’t. Those days are over. Governor Hochul has had years to act boldly on housing, climate and affordability and she hasn’t. When we give voters choices on the ballot, that’s not division, it’s democracy. Silencing debate is how parties lose trust, and we’ve already seen where that leads.”
Tuulikki Robertson, the Executive Director of the Black Leadership Action Coalition and the Black Institute, said:
“What Black communities don’t need are more lectures about ‘unity’ from leaders who have repeatedly shown they don’t understand us or listen to us. Governor Kathy Hochul has spoken about Black children in the Bronx as if they don’t know what a computer is, joked to a Black congregation in Buffalo about spending relief checks at liquor stores and presided over a chaotic cannabis rollout that shut Black and brown New Yorkers out of an industry we were promised would repair past harm.Â
When leadership fails communities this consistently, we must hold them accountable. Antonio Delgado understands that leadership starts with respect, listening, and delivering real change.”
The Source: This article includes reporting from FOX 5 NY’s political reporter Morgan McKay.