Last week, Governor Cuomo was named vice chairman of the National Governors Association, pledging to work with Republicans and Democrats alike to find common ground. 

"Never before has there been a more important time to use our collective strength as governors to show how we lead this nation forward. Never has there been a more important time to show the people of this country we can still find commonality," Cuomo said. 

And that common ground he says could focus on issues like infrastructure spending — a concern shared by chief executives from both sides of the aisle. 

"The governor’s job is to deal with the here and the now. Today, the burden falls to us, the states, to get results," Cuomo said. 

Cuomo is now in line to be the chairman of the National Governors Association in 2020, just in time for the presidential election. It will give him a national perch, and SUNY Albany Political Science Professor Bruce Gyory says it will make him a sought-after figure for those running for president. 

"That’ll be just what they want in a general election. A moderate governor from a major state who has a progressive record. That will make him an important validator for whoever is the nominee," Gyory said. 

First elected in 2011, Cuomo is now the longest-serving governor in the country. And Gyory says Cuomo’s recent legislative accomplishments like paid family leave and a climate change bill, can serve as a model.   

"Beyond seniority, he has actually enacted the things more recently elected governors are trying to get through," Gyory said.

Cuomo has said his preferred candidate is former Vice President Joe Biden, but he has yet to make an official endorsement in the race.