Jacobs secures reelection state Dems chair

Jay Jacobs was reelected as chair of the state Democratic Committee in a landslide win over Otsego County Democratic Party Chair Caitlin Ogden, his first-ever challenger for the role. 

And he did so with a slew of party heavyweights in attendance for the party’s reorganizational meeting, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, her running mate Adrienne Adams, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. 

Though he won with nearly 82% of the weighted vote, at a time with growing resentment toward the Democratic establishment and party progressives’ dissatisfaction with his leadership, Jacobs seemed determined to show he’d taken the challenge seriously and had earned a deep level of support – one that went beyond the “I’m with Jay” stickers committee members sported in the audience.

“This is a coordinated campaign … that is Jay, who is implementing the governor’s vision, helping to raise that money, helping to coordinate, helping to make sure that from  the top to the bottom, we get bigger majorities in Albany, reelect the statewides and win the House back,”Christine Quinn, state Democratic Committee executive chair, said as she nominated Jacobs. . “That doesn’t happen by accident, it happens when you have a good leader, and a leader of the party who is supported by our great Democratic mom, Gov. Kathy Hochul.”

Ogden entered the race last month because of dissatisfaction with Jacobs’ tenure, and was motivated by an "appetite for change.” 

“I waited for somebody to step up and give our committee members a choice, and I got tired of waiting,” she told City & State in an interview last month. She was especially frustrated by the choice not to give Hochul's short-lived primary opponent, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, a place on the ballot alongside the incumbent.

Still, Jacobs appreciated the challenge. “I have a business, and my business never does so well as when somebody is nipping at my heels in competition,” he said. “Then all of a sudden you sharpen, and you look to get even better than you think you were before. And I think that’s what the outcome of Caitlin’s efforts are.” 

Rep. Pat Ryan, a rising star within the party, agreed. “I think that’s the kind of party we are, where we all push each other to be better,” he told City & State after the vote.

Jacobs sought to build momentum as the Democrats look to win back the House majority come Election Day, drumming up support for candidates in competitive races, including Cait Conley, who is running to unseat Rep. Mike Lawler in the state’s 17th congressional district. Conley was in attendance and gave remarks Thursday. 

“Give people a reason to vote on this Democratic line other than to oppose the other line,” Jacobs said. He added, “The reason why we see so much disharmony, even within our own party, is because leadership, on the national level, needs to be addressing big ideas … and pointing out to people what America will look like when we elect the Democratic majority.”