In an extraordinary move, Gov. Andrew Cuomo wrote Brooklyn State Sen. Simcha Felder an open letter, urging him to stop conferencing with Republicans and instead join his Democratic colleagues. The swing of Felder would give Democrats 32 votes, enough to form a majority in the upper chamber.

Cuomo said in his letter that the Democratic Conference will not need Felder in November the way it needs him now.

But Felder has already said he is not joining the Democrats.

"I understand his rationale that he doesn't think we should cause disruption in the system, it's only 25 days," the governor said. "I am less concerned with the disruption of the bureaucracy of the state Senate and their staff. There are major pieces of legislation that we could pass."

At an event in Buffalo, Cuomo's Democratic primary opponent, Cynthia Nixon, blamed Cuomo for the situation with Felder.

"The situation that Gov. Cuomo has created for the last seven-and-a-half years, making it very comfortable and very cozy and being rewarded actually for Democrats going over and voting with Republicans — he has created this climate, and it is not surprising we are in the situation we are in with Simcha Felder," Nixon said.

Nixon also said her press conference on Wednesday at two separate community centers had to be cancelled because Cuomo exerted pressure on them not to accommodate her. Cuomo denied that but has been criticized previously for making threats to those who support Nixon.

When asked if he will exert any further pressure on Felder beyond the letter, Cuomo said, "I am not a pressure kind of guy. I'm a charm-circle-them-with-love kind of guy."

The governor was also asked about Nixon's refusal to release tax returns. Cuomo declined to criticize her directly, but he did say that it is standard practice for candidates for public office — with the exception of President Trump — to release their tax returns.