The New York Working Families Party has declined to endorse either Governor Kathy Hochul or Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado in the state’s upcoming gubernatorial primary, instead selecting a placeholder candidate. According to City & State, the decision comes as Hochul seeks re-election and works to consolidate Democratic support, even after receiving endorsements from Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but without securing backing from the influential progressive party.
As per Gothamist, Working Families Party co-directors Ana Maria Archila and Jasmine Gripper credited Governor Kathy Hochul with making progress on policies benefiting working families, including childcare and immigration. However, they reiterated the party’s position in favor of raising taxes on the wealthy to fund social programs, an issue on which they differ with the Hochul administration. At the party’s convention, Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado drew visible support from individual speakers and several regional advisory councils participating in the WFP process, even as the party ultimately chose to nominate a placeholder candidate.
The choice to withhold endorsements from both Governor Kathy Hochul and Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado reflects the Working Families Party’s strategy to maintain leverage and prioritize organizational growth following gains in the last election cycle, co-director Jasmine Gripper told City & State. Co-director Ana Maria Archila said Delgado received significant support because his campaign aligned with many of the party’s priorities, but emphasized that the decision was centered on using the WFP’s influence to push for substantive policy changes in Albany.
Governor Kathy Hochul received support from only a small share of Working Families Party state committee members, despite efforts to engage the party following its 2025 election gains and her approval of legislation protecting the WFP’s ballot line from potential conservative takeover. The outcome appears to reflect internal strategic calculations by the party to avoid a direct challenge to a sitting governor, drawing comparisons to past conflicts with former Governor Andrew Cuomo. “At no point was there any effort by the governor to force or threaten the party like Andrew Cuomo used to do,” WFP co-director Ana Maria Archila told City & State, even as she noted that Hochul took a firm position during negotiations.
The Working Families Party has selected a placeholder candidate, a practice the party has previously used to maintain flexibility ahead of the Democratic primary. A similar approach is being taken in the state comptroller race, where no candidate, including long-time incumbent Tom DiNapoli, has received the party’s endorsement. Co-directors Ana Maria Archila and Jasmine Gripper stated to City & State that a formal endorsement is expected closer to the Democratic primary in March.
