Mayor de Blasio Files Paperwork Necessary to Run for Governor of New York

By Yehudit Garmaise

     Mayor Bill de Blasio has filed the paperwork that the New York State Board of Elections requires for candidates for governor to run for office, CBS NY reported.

     When Mayor de Blasio, who has formed the New Yorkers for a Fair Future committee, which will allow him to launch a gubernatorial campaign, was asked at a recent press conference how he felt about a recent poll showed little public interest in his run for governor, the mayor did not seem bothered at all.

     “I have a long, rich history of being an underdog,” said Mayor de Blasio, whose 8-year term as mayor will end Dec. 31, although New York City’s new mayor will be elected tomorrow.

     “I have seen polls like that literally every time I’ve run for office,” said mayor, who has many times said that he wants to stay in public service after leaving Gracie Mansion. “If I worried about stuff like that I wouldn’t be sitting in this chair right now, literally.

     “If I had been daunted and overawed by early polling, I wouldn’t have bothered to keep forging ahead: and I’m glad I forged ahead.

     “We’re talking about polling that’s over the years gotten less and less reliable. So we’ll see what the future brings.”

     Fellow Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced that she intends to run for governor in June 2021, and last week, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced her candidacy for governor, just days after news broke that Cuomo would be criminal charged with crimes that were exposed by James’ lengthy investigation of the former governor.

     In addition, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who also has said that he is considering running for governor, has formed an exploratory committee, and Long Island Congressman Tom Suozzi and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone are also believed to be considering running for New York’s top position.

     New York has not had a Republican governor since George Pataki in 2006, however, Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin, former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, and Andrew Giuliani, who are all Republicans, have also officially launched gubernatorial campaigns.

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.