The Brooklyn Democratic Party on Wednesday withdrew its endorsement of Gov. Kathy Hochul.
File photo by Caroline Ourso/Courtesy of the Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
The Brooklyn Democratic Party pulled its endorsement of Gov. Kathy Hochul after she chose former City Council speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate.
The party had voted to endorse Hochul just two days earlier, along with incumbent comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Attorney General Letitia James, who are both running for re-election.
Party chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn called about 25 members of the party’s Executive Committee into an emergency meeting on Wednesday afternoon, sources said, excluding members who had not voted to endorse Hochul on Monday. A number of those members were in support of withdrawing the endorsement, said party spokesperson Jin Whang.
“There is no longer a majority of votes from Brooklyn State Committee Members/District Leaders in the Executive Committee to support the Governor’s re-election,” the committee said in a statement.
Hochul on Wednesday selected former City Council speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate. File photo courtesy of John McCarten/NYC Council Media Unit
The committee said Hochul had made a “political miscalculation” and failed to “engage or consult Brooklyn Democratic leaders who represent New York’s largest Democratic delegation” before choosing Adams.
“Major statewide political decisions require meaningful collaboration with the party leaders and elected officials who organize, mobilize and deliver Democratic victories,” the statement continued.
The Brooklyn delegation will likely vote against nominating Hochul as the Democratic party candidate at the New York State Democratic Convention this Friday, the committee said. The party also does not plan to support sitting lieutenant governor Antonio Delgado, who plans to challenge Hochul in the primary.
One committee member, who was not invited to Wednesday’s meeting but listened in with a colleague, said Bichotte Hermelyn criticized Adams and her track record as City Council speaker. The party chair may have preferred another lieutenant governor, they said — both Assembly Member Brian Cunningham and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez were rumored to be in the mix.
The committee member said they “don’t understand the political goal” of withdrawing the nomination.
“I don’t know what it ends up meaning for Hochul at the state committee meeting, I don’t know that it’s going to make a difference and prevent it from getting the votes she needs at the end of the day to avoid having to do petitioning to get on the ballot,” they said.
Withdrawing the nomination simply because the party hadn’t been consulted “reeks of kiss the ring mentality,” they said.
Hochul (second from left) with Bichotte Hermelyn (third from left) during a visit to Brooklyn in 2024.File photo by Erica Price
Another committee member who was in attendance said they supported Adams, and were glad Hochul chose her.
“She understands what’s going on Downstate, what we’re dealing with in terms of the city,” they said. “I’m not sure of the reasoning behind the Brooklyn Democratic Party decision.”
The member said they voiced their opinion in the meeting, and that Bichotte Hermelyn respected their position. With the party’s decision to withdraw the nomination made, though, they said they hope they will be able to work with Hochul if she does win re-election.
“I think this is a time to ask for meetings, to sit at the table … so we can iron it out as a community,” they said. “I’m hopeful that the conversation will happen, because there’s no need right now for us to be divided, especially when you have the opportunity for a Black woman to be in the position to deliver for the community.”
Other committee members, though, were critical of Adams — and of how Hochul made her decision.
Assembly Member and committee member Kalman Yeger on social media called the announcement a “joke.” Yeger told City & State that he doesn’t “understand the choice.”
“The most important job of the lieutenant governor is to be ready to be governor, if God forbid that happens,” he told the outlet. “I wish the governor nothing but good health, but you have to be prepared for these things. There is no one who can say with a straight face that Adrienne Adams is ready to be governor on day one.”
District leader Joey Cohen Saban told the outlet it was “extremely upsetting” that Hochul hadn’t given the party a chance to talk through the announcement, or warn them in advance that it was coming.
Hochul’s campaign declined to comment and pointed instead to supportive statements posted by the governor’s political allies — including Cunningham, who had reportedly been in the running for lieutenant governor.
“The wait is over…Congratulations to Adrienne Adams on being selected as Governor Hochul’s running mate for Lieutenant Governor,” he said on social media. “This is a historic all-women ticket, and her leadership, steadiness, and deep commitment to New Yorkers will serve our state well. Wishing her continued success as this next chapter begins.”
Some local politicians were critical of the withdrawal, taking aim at Bichotte Hermelyn in particular.
“Never has a Black woman worked so hard to tear down other Black women,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson on X. “The only political miscalculation is the one made by Chair Bichotte-Hermelyn.”
Council Member Sandy Nurse, referring to Delgado’s running mate, India Walton, said having two Black women in the running for lieutenant governor “is a moment that should be celebrated, regardless of personal feelings.”
“Another day, another reminder that the Brooklyn Dems deserve better leadership,” Nurse wrote on X. “This ongoing foolishness is embarrassing and untenable.”
Bichotte Hermelyn did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.