New York Democrats are quietly pulling away from Governor Kathy Hochul, choosing distance over outright support as her approval slips and local candidates worry about the political cost of standing next to her.
Politicians react to reality, and in New York that reality is a governor with high negatives. Several Democrats who once embraced Kathy Hochul are now careful to avoid public association, even when she has offered endorsements. This shift is as much about perception as it is about policy: elected officials on Long Island and elsewhere are calculating whether Hochul helps or hurts their chances this fall.
Reps. Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen provide a clear example of this cautious strategy. Both accepted Hochul’s endorsement in name, yet their campaign materials do not list her as a backer. That omission is deliberate, signaling a preference for distance while trying to keep access to the party’s base.
Local insiders say the omission is not accidental. Party operatives worry that a visible tie to Hochul could alienate suburban voters who are already unhappy about taxes, transit issues, and perceived mismanagement. Candidates want Hochul’s resources without the baggage of her headline numbers at the ballot box.
Long Island Democrats ignored Gov. Kathy Hochul on their websites even though the incumbent is sitting on top of the party ticket in the November elections.
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US Reps. Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen don’t mention Hochul as a backer, an apparent snub to the top elected Democrat in the state as some insiders speculate local party members are afraid association with the governor could hurt their chances on the island.
Another congressional candidate and several other local state pols also don’t list Hochul, who is facing Long Island Republican Bruce Blakeman in the gubernatorial race.
“If candidates thought Hochul would win Long Island, they would stand next to her,” one local Democratic source told The Post, saying her appeasing socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani could turn off some suburban voters.
The pattern is obvious: politicians want the perks of party backing but not the optics of proximity. Both Suozzi and Gillen have histories of publicly embracing Hochul when it suited them, making their retreat now look strategic rather than principled. Voters see the flip, and that fuels narratives of political convenience.
Suozzi’s past run-ins and the public apologies he issued after his 2022 primary loss are part of what critics call a pattern of political expediency. Gillen’s past praise, where she once called Hochul a “powerful, intelligent woman,” is also on the record and doesn’t vanish simply because the current winds are unfavorable. Those earlier moments make today’s distancing look calculated instead of authentic.
Both lawmakers have supported and implemented policies aligned with Hochul’s agenda, policies critics say have harmed suburban districts. Now, as polls show Hochul with troubling unfavorable ratings, those same lawmakers must navigate a tricky line: acknowledge shared governance without absorbing the governor’s political liabilities. That balancing act makes for awkward messaging and selective mentions on campaign sites.
Republican operatives have seized on the inconsistency, calling out what they describe as hypocrisy and political cowardice. “Two-Faced Tom Suozzi and Lying Laura Gillen spent years cozying up to Kathy Hochul and embracing their disastrous policies,” said NRCC Spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole. “Now, they’re desperate to cover up their blind allegiance to her because they agree she’s deeply unpopular. But Long Islanders see right through their lies, and they won’t let Suozzi and Gillen have it both ways.”
The end result is a party that is fragmented in public appearance: a gubernatorial candidate pushing a statewide ticket while local officials quietly erase the connection. For voters, that disconnect is confusing and for opponents it is an opening. Politics is about trust, and when elected officials try to have it both ways, they invite scrutiny and make their own records the story.
