Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday emphasized his support for abortion rights and efforts to strengthen them in New York hours before President Donald Trump is set to announce his latest nominee on the Supreme Court.
Cuomo, who is seeking a third term this year and faces a Democratic primary on Sept. 13, pursued a multi-pronged approach on the issue through both a pair of campaign ads and an executive order.
In the morning, his re-election campaign released a pair of ads for TV and for digital platforms promoting his support for abortion rights.
One ad says Cuomo is “fighting back and leading the way. Taking action to make it law, so that no matter what Trump does women’s health care decisions are protected in New York.”
The ads are part of a six-figure ad purchase, his campaign said.
Later in the day Monday, Cuomo held a campaign-style rally announced as an official government event, appearing alongside his endorsed candidate for attorney general, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, and spoke in front of women holding Planned Parenthood posters.
James called Cuomo a feminist, which was also echoed by Rep. Nydia Velazquez, the Brooklyn Democrat whose district the event was held in.
“Tish James says I’m a feminist and she’s right,” Cuomo said. “God told me I was a feminist when he gave me three daughters. My father was a feminist. God told him he was a feminist when he had 14 grandchildren, 13 girls out of 14 grandchildren.”