Every four years since 2010, there has been a melodrama over whether Andrew Cuomo would take the ballot line of the progressive Working Families Party. 

Every year, Cuomo ultimately would run with the WFP's ballot line. But now, after Cuomo had backed legislation seen as threatening the very existence of the party on the ballot, Cuomo's name won't be in front of votes next year. 

Progressives like Working Families Party State Director Sochie Nnaemeka see the next year as a potential opportunity in a post-Cuomo political world. 

"We're ready to support and consolidate and align behind a strong progressive candidate," Nnaemeka said in a Capital Tonight interview on Wednesday. "That's the best opportunity and the necessity we have to usher in this new post-Cuomo era."

How this will shape itself over the next several months remains to be seen. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is set to replace Cuomo in 13 days, previously held moderate to conservative opinions on guns and undocumented immigrants. She has since shifted on those issues, embracing a statewide Democratic platform in New York that supports stronger gun control laws and measures like the Green Light Law, which provides undocumented immigrants access to driver's licenses. 

For now, progressives are willing to give Hochul space as she prepares to take office. 

"Lt. Gov. Hochul has an opportunity to step in and really lead on progressive issues from Buffalo to the Rockaways," Nnaemeka said. 

Those issues include addressing affordable housing and the immediate concern over the expiring eviction moratorium at the end of the month. 

But would the WFP run their own candidate next, and not cross-endorse the Democratic nominee? Nnaemeka is optimistic the party can back a Democrat who shares their values.  

"We believe we can get a strong progressive candidate to run on the Democratic Party line in the primary and on the WFP line in November to put forward that progressive agenda," she said.