Hochul defends Adams pick after Brooklyn Dems fallout

Gov. Kathy Hochul is hoping the third time’s the charm. 

Hochul introduced her new running mate, former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, on Thursday to kick off the state Democratic Party nominating convention in Syracuse.

The pick marks Hochul’s third lieutenant governor pick of her administration after former Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin resigned following federal corruption charges, which were later dropped. Adams will replace Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado – Hochul’s lone Democratic challenger.

“I have found someone who shares the realization that this job is not about our egos,” Hochul told reporters Thursday afternoon. “We are so looking forward to introducing her to the rest of the state and let the rest of New Yorkers see what I see in her. We are going to be an incredible team.”

Party leaders will vote Friday to decide which statewide candidates have the Democratic Party nod and get automatic ballot access to the primary, without having to petition. 

But Brooklyn Democratic Party leader Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn put a damper on the celebration by withdrawing the county’s endorsement of Hochul’s ticket Thursday – outraged by her choosing Adams.

The governor was quick to defend Adams, who she said worked on affordable housing, child care and education in her four-year tenure as council speaker. 

“New York is looking for a fighter at this moment in our history,” Hochul said. “I’ve found a strong woman – a woman who knows how to take it to the streets, one who knows how to fight back. So no one can question what Adrienne Adams brings to this fight in this moment of history right now.”

“She’s demonstrated that in one of the toughest jobs you think of in our state,” the governor added, “so I don’t see how anybody can question her ability to do the number one job.”

And Adams dismissed rumors that she and Bichotte Hermelyn don’t like each other.

“There is no beef,” she said to reporters. “It’s got nothing to do with the Brooklyn-Queens thing. We all know as Democrats there are going to be differences. So whether there are differences here, today [or] tomorrow, there are going to be differences. But we pride ourselves on having a big tent.”

The two grandmothers, both in their mid-60s, will grace New York’s first all-female statewide ticket for a major party.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, state Attorney General Letitia James, labor unions and 50 Central New York leaders endorsed the Hochul-Adams ticket Thursday.

Bichotte Hermelyn reiterated her opposition to the Adams pick, arguing in an interview on NY1 the choice could hurt Democrats in downballot races. But Brooklyn district leaders aren’t unified in rescinding Hochul’s endorsement. A reform faction of the Brooklyn Dems blasted Bichotte Hermelyn’s the decision Thursday, calling on her to step down as party chair after causing widespread confusion.

Democratic Party leaders from across the Empire State will vote to nominate the attorney general, comptroller and the governor’s races by 3 p.m. Thursday. All three incumbents are expected to easily win the votes.