Kathy Hochul Sees ‘deep Bench’ Of Governors In 2028 Election

ALBANY, New York — Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday touted what she called the Democratic Party’s “deep bench” of governors who could run for president in 2028 — singling out leaders like California’s Gavin Newsom, Kentucky’s Andy Beshear and Maryland’s Wes Moore.

Asked about former Vice President Kamala Harris potentially seeking the nomination again, Hochul was far less enthusiastic.

“She can do whatever she wants to do,” Hochul said at POLITICO’s New York Agenda: Albany Summit.

Hochul, who spoke during a wide-ranging live interview near the state Capitol in Albany, made clear her attention was on governors.

“We are so damn lucky,” Hochul said at the event. “We have the deepest bench I’ve seen in years of highly qualified individuals that have been battle tested. Maybe I have a bias toward governors but they’re all my friends.”

Democrats are eager to recapture the presidency after Republican Donald Trump’s White House return in 2024. At least one New Yorker, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is considered a potential contender.

But Hochul, who’s been governor since 2021, said state chief executives are well positioned to lead the nation.

“They understand that it’s just about getting results, not about introducing bills in Congress and having hearings and all,” said Hochul, a former congresswoman who represented a deep red western New York district. “I was there, that’s very important what they do.”

Hochul, a moderate Democrat, has forged a working relationship with Trump, meeting with him at least twice in the Oval Office to discuss energy policy. On Wednesday, though, she hinted that the conversations with the mercurial president have been occasionally contentious, like when the federal government yanked funding for a crucial Hudson River tunnel project.

She hesitated when asked if Trump is a “good faith partner” in government.

“It’s a necessary partner,” she said and added, “It’s not always that cordial, I’ll say that.”

Yet Hochul nevertheless has the ear of the Trump administration.

She spoke last week with the president’s border czar, Tom Homan, to reiterate her opposition to the federal government approving a surge of federal immigration enforcement agents to New York. Homan’s visit came as Trump announced he is replacing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following deadly unrest in Minneapolis over an aggressive deportation campaign.

The Homan conversation also took place as Hochul and state lawmakers are weighing a package of sanctuary-related measures meant to put legal guardrails on federal agencies like ICE when operating in New York.

Asked if Homan is conducting a form of blue state diplomacy over the matter, Hochul said she expects Republicans will be hurt politically by the deportation policy.

“They know they’re going to get shellacked in the midterm elections over this,” she said.