Dems the breaks.<\/p>\n
Rep. Tom Suozzi will snub a Long Island campaign event with Gov. Kathy Hochul on Saturday because of a scheduling clash \u2014 as other down-ballot New York Democrats distance themselves from the unpopular Empire State leader.<\/p>\n
Suozzi\u2019s campaign told The Post that the five-term Long Island congressman was \u201cfully booked,\u201d and couldn\u2019t make the \u201cNassau County Young Democrats\u2019 Bus Tour and Canvass Launch.\u201d<\/p>\n
U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., gives remarks during a press conference with House Problem Solvers Caucus members on gerrymandering reform on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 16, 2026. REUTERS<\/p>\n
\u201cCongressman Suozzi\u2019s schedule is set weeks in advance and he is fully booked all weekend,\u201d a spokesperson for the Nassau County pol said Friday.<\/p>\n
The cold-shoulder comes after two other Democratic candidates in high-profile midterm races separated themselves from the state party\u2019s standard-bearer, who is up for re-election herself on November 3 against Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.<\/p>\n
In an embarrassing caught-on-camera moment<\/a>, battleground Dem challenger Cait Conley told prospective voters this week that she agreed with Republican Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler after he said Hochul \u201chas got to go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe need a new governor. Kathy Hochul has to go,\u201d the incumbent congressman said at the end of his speech during a Putnam County VFW forum Tuesday night, video obtained by The Post shows.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to tell you: I\u2019m in absolute agreement with my opponent,\u201d Conley said immediately after Lawler handed her the mic, then telling the conservative-leaning crowd that New York was \u201cscrewing you over.\u201d<\/p>\n Democrat Blake Gendebien, meanwhile, refused to say if he would even vote or support Hochul <\/a>when asked by a Utica-area radio station on October 8, The Post reported this week.<\/p>\n New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks during a press conference in Manhattan on Oct. 16, 2026, where she discussed an energy affordability program and took questions from the press. Robert Miller for NY Post<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I support is anyone that will help the North Country be absolutely successful,\u201d said Gendebien, who is running against Republican Anthony Constantino to replace retiring GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik in the 21st House District.<\/p>\n While that upstate district has been deemed \u201clikely Republican\u201d by the Cook Political Report, the race between Lawler and Conley for New York\u2019s 17th House District is a toss-up.<\/p>\n On Long Island, Suozzi faces a challenge from Republican Michael LiPetri Jr. in the 3rd Congressional District, which leans Democrat, but the seat is seen as being in play as Dems vie to retake the House of Representatives in the midterms.<\/p>\n Suozzi, the former Nassau County executive who challenged Hochul in the 2022 gubernatorial Democratic primary, said he had a standing \u201cdim sum meet-and-greet\u201d event Saturday morning that precluded him from attending the event with Hochul.<\/p>\n Sources said state Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs and local party bosses have been begging Dem bigwigs to show.<\/p>\n Rep.-elect Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., poses for a photo on the House steps of the Capitol in Washington after freshman members of Congress posed for their class photo on Nov. 15, 2024. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images<\/p>\n Another Nassau County incumbent, Rep. Laura Gillen \u2014 facing a challenge from Republican Anthony D\u2019Esposito for the 4th House District seat that leans Democrat \u2014 will be in attendance, her campaign confirmed.<\/p>\n Neither Gillen \u2014 who previously bashed Hochul for backing socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani \u2014 nor Suozzi had the governor\u2019s endorsement listed on their respective campaign websites.<\/p>\n Recent polling from Siena University <\/a>may explain why Dems in upstate or suburban Long Island districts might not want to tout their proximity to the governor.<\/p>\n While she notches a huge lead over Blakeman in New York City, the margin narrows to 48% to 46% in the downstate suburbs, which include Long Island, Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties.<\/p>\n Upstate, Blakeman was in the lead, with the poll conducted last month showing Hochul trailing her GOP foe 40% to 55% in the 21st District.<\/p>\n Only 48% of voters viewed Hochul favorably, and 48% unfavorably, the survey found. Her job approval rating was also under 50% \u2014 48% gave a thumbs up and 47% disapproved.<\/p>\n