Gov. Kathy Hochul will be forced to walk a tightrope in Albany this year as Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s populist wave has emboldened lefty lawmakers – who aren’t afraid to use her Democratic primary challenge as a weapon.
Progressive lawmakers who spoke with The Post Wednesday — on the opening of the legislative session — warned Hochul could face political blowback if she crosses red lines, such as proposing major changes to the controversial criminal justice statute “Raise the Age.”
It could drive more left-wingers in the state Senate or Assembly toward the camp of Hochul’s estranged Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who is going up against her as she seeks re-election this year.
“Making policy changes to it, nobody wants to touch that in the legislature,” said Brooklyn state Sen. Jabari Brisport, one of three Democratic socialists in the upper chamber and the first in the Legislature to endorse Delgado.
“I was proud to be the first person. Someone’s got to be first, but there’s more coming,” Brisport said.
Others, like progressive Assemblymember Jon Rivera (D-Erie), said he was standing by Hochul — but that she needed to do more to counter the Trump administration, such as expanding SNAP benefits and opening health insurance options for non-citizens no longer subsidized by the feds.
“Kathy Hochul is the right person to lead the state right now in this challenge,” Rivera said.
Even if she avoids picking fights, Hochul faces a full frontal assault from lawmakers hellbent on following through on Mamdani’s call for “universal childcare” by hiking the personal income tax – a line the governor has said she won’t cross.
Still, the growing spat between New York Democrats seemed largely muted amid the ceremonial first day of session, which included Delgado mingling with lawmakers before and after presiding over the state Senate.
Delgado largely avoided delving into the political fray during his roughly four minutes of remarks to the chamber.
He told The Post after that he expects more legislators to endorse him moving forward.
“They don’t want folks who are here to protect the status quo,” he said. “They don’t want folks who are going to nibble around the edges. They want to see real decisive focus and action, and they want to feel impact.”
Hochul allies meanwhile knocked Delgado’s remarks in the senate as empty.
“The Lt. Governor spent his time repeating the word “leadership” with no receipts, no record, and no plan,” Assemblyman Brian Cunninham (D-Brooklyn) posted on X.
Hochul, meanwhile, announced she was backing legislation to crack down on the scourge of ghost guns — unveiling her second policy proposal for 2026 that will be unveiled at her “State of the State” address next week.
The proposal would require manufacturers of 3D printer to restrict their products from making guns. It would also force gun manufacturers to ensure their products are not easily modifiable.
Hochul continued to brush off the primary challenge by Delgado, telling reporters after an event elsewhere in Albany that she felt “excellent.”
“We’ve been battle tested to deal with any of the trials and tribulations that come our way,” Hochul said.
https://nypost.com/2026/01/07/us-news/hochul-must-walk-tightrope-in-albany-or-face-defections-to-dem-primary-challenger/
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