The Brooklyn Democratic Party has rescinded its endorsement of Gov. Kathy Hochul – enraged by the governor’s selection of former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams to be her running mate.
It’s a shocking – and baffling – move by Brooklyn Dems leader Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who leads the biggest county party organization in the state and has previously had a friendly relationship with the governor.
Bichotte Hermelyn held an emergency call at noon Wednesday with about 25 district leaders after hearing rumors that Hochul chose Adams, a Southeast Queens native who led the council for four years. Members of the party executive committee agreed to withdraw the endorsement of Hochul’s reelection just two days before the state Democratic Party’s nominating convention in Syracuse.
“There is no longer a majority of votes from Brooklyn State Committee members/district leaders in the Executive Committee to support the governor’s reelection,” according to a statement from the Brooklyn Dems released Wednesday afternoon. “This is a response to the political miscalculation on the part of the governor’s campaign and their failure to engage or consult Brooklyn Democratic leaders who represent New York’s largest Democratic delegation. Major statewide political decisions require meaningful collaboration with the party leaders and elected officials who organize, mobilize and deliver Democratic victories.”
Hochul’s facing a primary from her current lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado. The county party is not planning to support Delgado, who’s running a longshot campaign challenging the governor from the left. But the committee members said they are “prone to voting against” nominating Hochul, or abstaining from the vote.“We believe Democrats must make strong and strategic political decisions particularly during challenging election cycles,” the statement said.
But the decision was criticized by prominent Democrats from the borough, including state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, who doesn’t hold a position in the county organization. “This is…embarrassing,” he said in a post on X. “I, for one, am a Brooklyn Democrat who supports the renomination of our Democratic governor, @KathyHochul.”
Bichotte Hermelyn has shown a willingness to change loyalties as political circumstances change. She defended then-Mayor Eric Adams, even as he faced calls to resign or be removed following his 2024 federal indictment. When former Gov. Andrew Cuomo entered the race to push out Adams, she endorsed him instead and was a prominent campaign surrogate. After Mayor Zohran Mamdani won the primary, she threw her support behind him, even as Cuomo continued his campaign.
People on the call earlier Wednesday said Bichotte Hermelyn expressed anger that Hochul tapped Adams without consulting party leaders, arguing that Adams as speaker “was bad for Brooklyn.”
At least three Brooklynites’ names had been in the mix as potential picks for LG: Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Assembly Member Brian Cunningham and Secretary of State Walter Mosley. Hochul instead went with a surprising pick from the rival borough. Adams had previously been reported as a contender for the job, but few political observers considered her to be the likely choice as the convention approached. Adams finished fourth in last year’s crowded Democratic mayoral primary.
“It was extremely upsetting that the governor didn’t at least provide the chair and the executive committee with the opportunity to have a conversation about this,” district leader Joey Cohen Saban told City & State. “She should have at least given us a heads up before she announced it.”
People on the call said several party leaders opposed Adams, a moderate Democrat, becoming the governor’s second-in-command, and that they were unimpressed with her four-year tenure leading the City Council.
Assembly Member Kalman Yeger was vocal about his grievances with the former speaker, who he served under on the City Council.
“I don’t understand it – I don’t understand the choice,” said Yeger, who’s also a democratic district leader in Brooklyn.. “The most important job of the lieutenant governor is to be ready to be governor, if God forbid that happens. 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.”
Hochul’s campaign declined to comment, but referred City & State to statements from political allies, including Attorney General Letitia James – who was quick to endorse Adams as the governor’s running mate.
“Adrienne Adams is a fighter for New Yorkers and a true friend of working people,” James said in a post on X. “She’ll be a great partner for Kathy Hochul in this campaign and the years ahead. I am thrilled for her and our state!”
Cunningham was vetted to be Hochul’s lieutenant governor but was not chosen. The Central Brooklyn Assembly member, who endorsed Adams in her mayoral bid, said he was not rescinding his endorsement of Hochul, and congratulated Adams on X.
“This is a historic all-women ticket, and her leadership, steadiness and deep commitment to New Yorkers will serve our state well,” Cunningham wrote. “Wishing her continued success as this next chapter begins.”
