The political action committee of the Business Council of New York State on Thursday is set to endorse Gov. Kathy Hochul for a full term.
The backing from the business organization comes as the economy, inflation and the cost of living have been cited as key concerns for voters heading into the general election.
Hochul, a Democrat, is seeking a full term this year against Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin. The group is also endorsing Democratic Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, who faces Republican Paul Rodriguez.
“Governor Hochul has worked with The Business Council and its members on major economic & climate issues going back to her time in office as Lieutenant Governor. We have a strong relationship with the governor’s office which has made itself accessible and open to listening to the needs of the business community,” said Heather Briccetti Mulligan, President & CEO of The Business Council. “As we move forward in an ever-changing economy, it’s important that business advocacy groups can work with a governor who is willing to have open discussions on key economic policies that will impact the state’s private-sector employers and working families.”
Hochul in recent weeks has touted efforts to bring high-tech chip manufacturing to upstate communities, Micron plans to build a plant in central New York with the aid of state support. Zeldin has pledged an across-the-board tax cut and wants to allow gas extraction in upstate New York.
New York is girding for a possible economic slowdown in the coming months. The state is yet to fully recover all the jobs lost during the initial shutdown in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, budget gaps are being projected as tax revenue is expected to slow.
The Business Council also made its slate of legislative endorsements as well:
State Senate
Anthony Palumbo (1st District) - Incumbent
Mario Mattera (2nd District) - Incumbent
Monica Martinez (4th District) – New District
Anna Kaplan (7th District) Incumbent
Alexis Weik (8th District) – New District
Joseph Addabbo (15th District) – Incumbent
Iwen Chu (17th District) – New District
Kevin Parker (21st District) – Incumbent
Andrew Lanza (24th District) – Incumbent
Andrea Stewart-Cousins (35th District) – Incumbent
Jamaal Bailey (36th District) – Incumbent
Shelley Mayer (37th District) – Incumbent
Bill Webber (38th District) – Challenger
Robert Rolison (39th District) – New District
Peter Harckham (40th District) – Incumbent
Sue Serino (41st District) – New District
Dan Stec (45th District) – Incumbent
Neil Breslin (46th District) – New District
Julie Abbott (48th District) – New District
Mark Walczyk (49th District) – New District
John Mannion (50th District) – Incumbent
Rich David (52nd District) – Challenger
Joe Griffo (53rd District) – New District
Pam Helming (54th District) – Incumbent
Len Morrell (55th District) – Challenger
Jeremy Cooney (56th District) – Incumbent
George Borrello (57th District) – Incumbent
Tom O’Mara (58th District) – Incumbent
Patrick Gallivan (60th District) – New District
Ed Rath (61st District) – New District
Rob Ortt (62nd District) - Incumbent
State Assembly
Fred Thiele (1st District) – Incumbent
Jodi Giglio (2nd District) – Incumbent
Joe DeStefano (3rd District) – Incumbent
Phil Ramos (6th District) – Incumbent
Michael Fitzpatrick (8th District) – Incumbent
Steve Stern (10th District) – Incumbent
Kimberly Jean-Pierre (11th District) – Incumbent
Keith Brown (12th District) – Incumbent
Charles Lavine (13th District) – Incumbent
David McDonough (14th District) – Incumbent
Gina Sillitti (16th District) – Incumbent
John Mikulin (17th District) – Incumbent
Taylor Darling (18th District) – Incumbent
Ed Ra (19th District) – Incumbent
Judy Griffin (21st District) – Incumbent
Michaelle Solages (22nd District) – Incumbent
Nily Rozic (25th District) – Incumbent
Andrew Hevesi (28th District) – Incumbent
Alicia Hyndman (29th District) – Incumbent
Vivian Cook (32nd District) – Incumbent
Clyde Vanel (33rd District) – Incumbent
Mathylde Frontus (46th District) – Incumbent
Charles Fall (61st District) – Incumbent
Carl Heastie (83rd District) – Incumbent
Amy Paulin (88th District) – Incumbent
J. Gary Pretlow (89th District) – Incumbent
Matt Slater (94th District) – Incumbent
Kenneth Zebrowski (96th District) – Incumbent
Karl Brabenec (98th District) – Incumbent
Aileen Gunther (100th District) – Incumbent
Chris Tague (102nd District) – Incumbent
Didi Barrett (106th District) – Incumbent
Scott Bendett (107th District) – Incumbent
John McDonald (108th District) – Incumbent
Alexandra Velella (110th District) – Challenger
Angelo Santabarbara (11th District) - Incumbent
Mary Beth Walsh (112th District) – Incumbent
Carrier Woerner (113th District) – Incumbent
Mathew Simpson (114th District) – Incumbent
Billy Jones (115th District) – Incumbent
Kenneth Blankenbush (117th District) – Incumbent
Robert Smullen (118th District) – Incumbent
Marianne Buttenschon (119th District) – Incumbent
Will Barclay (120th District) – Incumbent
Brain Miller (122nd District) – Incumbent
Donna Lupardo (123rd District) – Incumbent
Christopher Friend (124th District) – Incumbent
Al Stirpe (127th District) – Incumbent
Pamela Hunter (128th District) – Incumbent
William Magnarelli (129th District) – Incumbent
Brian Manktelow (130th District) – Incumbent
Phil Palmesano (132nd District) – Incumbent
Josh Jensen (134th District) – Incumbent
Jennifer Lunsford 9135th District) – Incumbent
Harry Bronson (138th District) – Incumbent
Stephen Hawley (139th District) – Incumbent
William Conrad (140th District) – Incumbent
Crystal Peoples-Stokes (141st District) – Incumbent
Monica Wallace (143rd District) – Incumbent
Michael Norris (144th District) – Incumbent
Karen McMahon (146th District) – Incumbent
David DiPietro (147th District) – Incumbent
Joseph Giglio (148th District) – Incumbent
Jonathan Rivera (149th District) – Incumbent
Andrew Goodell (150th District) - Incumbent