With Nixon in the race, Governor Cuomo is now facing a progressive primary challenge, as is his Lieutenant Governor Hochul since Councilmember Jumaane Williams announced his candidacy last month.
After month's of speculation, actress and activist Cynthia Nixon announced yesterday her campaign for governor of New York. In a video in which she signaled a challenge to business as usual in Albany and outlined her vision for New York. It will be the Sex in the City star's first run for a political office.
"I love New York. I've never lived anywhere else," said Nixon in a video, announcing her run. "But something has to change. We want our government to work again, on healthcare, ending mass incarceration, fixing our broken subway. We are sick of politicians who care more about headlines and power than they do about us. It can't just be business as usual anymore."
In the two-minute video, Nixon formally introduced herself: A NYC-native, raised by a single mother in a one bedroom, fifth-floor walk-up apartment, who began working as an actor when she was 12 years old to earn money to pay for her college education.
Nixon positions herself as a progressive voice who has been an advocate for more equitable education funding all across the state, for LGBTQ and marriage equality, and who has worked with Planned Parenthood to advocate for the full Women's Equality Agenda.
In her statement released yesterday, she attacked incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo for his failure to fix the New York City subway and his support for "a backroom deal which handed Republicans control of the state Senate."
"Unlike Andrew Cuomo," it said in the statement, "Cynthia rides the subway nearly every day and understands the toll that his disastrous mismanagement of the MTA is taking on New Yorkers."
With Nixon in the race, Cuomo is now facing a progressive primary challenge, as is his Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul since Councilmember Jumaane Williams announced his candidacy last month who seems to welcome the new addition to the gubernatorial race.
"I've always said that Governor Cuomo has earned a primary," tweeted Williams. "I am glad to see another great candidate in the race."
In the coming weeks, Nixon plans to travel across the state to hear from voters. If Nixon wins the race, she would be the first woman elected to New York's highest office - and its first LGBTQ governor.
This year's primary will take place on September 11, followed by the general election on November 6, 2018.
