Democratic US Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is endorsing Kathy Hochul in the New York gubernatorial race.
Jeffries, who represents Brooklyn and Queens, said in a statement Sunday that Hochul is a “tireless advocate for all New Yorkers.”
Jeffries is seen as a strong contender to succeed Nancy Pelosi as the top Democratic lawmaker in the US House of Representatives and is among the most influential members of New York’s congressional delegation. Ten other Democratic members of the state House delegation have endorsed Hochul, who became governor in August when then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned.
Hochul, who hails from Buffalo, has become a front-runner in the gubernatorial race as she seeks the job on her own, but has sought to strengthen her ties to New York City and areas like Brooklyn, where she is finds his most liberal challenger, Jumaane Williams.
Williams is New York City’s elected ombudsman who has won the endorsement of the progressive Working Families Party.
Also running in the Democratic primary is US Rep. Tom Suozzi, who represents Long Island and has criticized Hochul for not doing more to address crime levels in New York City.
–
