ALBANY — New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, a progressive Democrat, has filed papers with the state Board of Elections to run in a primary against Gov. Kathy Hochul next June, getting a jump on state Attorney General Letitia James, who is expected to announce her own challenge for governor.
Williams officially formed the “Jumaane for New York” gubernatorial campaign committee and filed papers with the NYSBOE on Oct. 18, after announcing last month he had created an exploratory committee for the bid. The filing was first reported by the Albany Times Union.
The left-leaning politician from Brooklyn, who is up for re-election to his current post on Nov. 2, has been calling donors and supporters in recent weeks, The Post has reported, and his early entry heads off official announcements of candidacy from other potential rivals.
Williams ran a failed primary challenge against Hochul for lieutenant governor in 2018.
James — another Democrat from Brooklyn — is expected to announce her own campaign within the coming days, insiders with knowledge of her plans told The Post on Wednesday evening.
James and allies made calls notifying individuals of her plans, putting to bed several months’ worth of speculation that the powerful Democrat would also mount a challenge against Hochul.
If elected, James would be the first black woman to serve as governor of New York as well as any other state in the country.
Other potential hopefuls include outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio — also from Brooklyn — and Long Island Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi.
Early polls in the race have shown Hochul leading her potential rivals: A recent Marist Institute for Public Opinion poll found the governor leading James 44 percent to 28 percent and Williams trailing with 13 percent in a three-way matchup.
In a four-way race including disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo — as the exiled pol has resurfaced over the last several weeks to attack the findings of James’ bombshell sexual harassment report — Hochul led James 36-24, with Cuomo at 19 percent and Williams at 9 percent.
In a separate Siena College poll, Hochul captured 39 percent of the vote of registered Democratic voters. James secured 20 percent, de Blasio 10 percent and Williams 8 percent.
Meanwhile, sources speculate having both James and Williams in the race will put pressure on New York City Democrats, especially in Brooklyn, forcing them to choose between the pair.
But Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairwoman and Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn signaled Wednesday night she could throw her own support behind the AG — in what would be a powerful endorsement.
“New York State just welcomed its first female governor, Kathy Hochul, and now we have the prospect of welcoming the first Black woman governor in the nation,” she said in a statement.
“Our borough will have an enormous decision-making role in 2022, given that we have many allies running in this gubernatorial race. Brooklyn will at last be able to elect a governor that will empower and uplift all Brooklynites.”
Meanwhile, Hochul has been furiously fundraising ahead of the likely June 2022 primary.
She has captured several endorsements from upstate county Democratic leaders as well as the personal endorsement of New York state Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs — also a known ally of Cuomo.
