At the moment, the sole Democratic candidate in the race for New York governor is incumbent Kathy Hochul. 

But that's expected to change, as Attorney General Letitia James has not ruled out a bid for governor, and has traveled the state in recent days to promote funding to combat opioid addiction. New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Rep. Tom Suozzi are also waiting in the wings. 

Hochul, who took office Aug. 24 to replace three-term Gov. Andrew Cuomo, nevertheless has work cut out for her. An upstate resident with little name recognition as the state's lieutenant governor prior to Cuomo's year of scandal and controversy, Hochul is the first governor from western New York in a century. 

Still, she has allies gained over the last several weeks -- many of them transferring their loyalty from Cuomo to her. State Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs, a longtime Cuomo ally before urging him to resign in August, has endorsed her for a full term next year, and has encouraged fellow Democratic leaders to do so the same. 

On Monday, Hochul was endorsed by NAACP New York President Hazel Dukes, a prominent advocate who spoke at the introduction of Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin last month.

"Throughout her life and career, Governor Kathy Hochul has consistently stood up for the voiceless and marginalized in our communities,” Dukes said. “As an elected official, she has shown an unparalleled ability to listen and govern with compassion. Since becoming governor, Governor Hochul has delivered results for our communities by taking steps to end mass incarceration and signing sweeping criminal justice reform legislation, spending millions to end the gun violence epidemic, and providing rent relief to those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic."

And just last week, Hochul was given the nod by Emily's List, an endorsement that comes as abortion and reproductive rights will likely be a major theme of next year's elections based on pending cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. 

“EMILY’s List is proud to endorse Governor Kathy Hochul as she runs to become the first woman elected governor of New York," said Laphonza Butler, the group's president. "Governor Hochul stepped up to lead New York in a moment rife with skepticism and mistrust for Albany. As governor, she has prioritized rebuilding trust between her administration and New Yorkers, and delivering results. Her leadership has been integral to effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic and a reexamination of the sexual harassment culture in the capital. We know that Gov. Hochul will continue to put the people of New York first, as she has done during her decades of public service, and will lift up women, children, and underserved communities.”

It's difficult to gage the effect these early endorsements will have on a primary in which voting doesn't begin until June. Nevetheless, it's a sign of organizational and personal support for Hochul in the early weeks of her time in office, a tenure that she hopes will last beyond 2022.