By: Jared Evan
After several weeks off avoiding the question, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio is indeed attempting to run for governor of the state.
De Blasio filed paperwork with the New York State Board of Elections last week requesting the creation of the New Yorkers for a Fair Future committee, CBS2’s Aundrea Cline-Thomas reported Monday.
De Blasio is considered a long shot for the job, considering his historically low approval ratings and his intense unpopularity in NYC.
CBS News reported:
When authorized, it would allow de Blasio to begin fundraising for a statewide campaign, namely a run for governor. But according to the Board of Elections, more paperwork is needed before fundraising is authorized.
While he has not publicly disclosed future plans, de Blasio has made a point in recent weeks to get cozy with his base, including parishioners at New Hope Christian Fellowship, a Black church in Brooklyn.
Although he stopped short of announcing his candidacy on Tuesday, de Blasio agreed that the paperwork he filed creating a committee to address statewide political issues suggests he’s preparing to join what is shaping up to be a crowded field of Democrats eyeing the governor’s mansion, Daily News reported.
De Blasio appeared on Democratic party news/opinion network CNN and was in a jovial mood.
“Draw your own conclusions,” Hizzoner said with a grin during an appearance on CNN.
The outgoing mayor went on to agree with anchor John Berman’s assessment that his actions suggest that he’s “not not running.”
“I like that. Use the double negative,” he said. “That always works.”
Political strategist J.C. Polanco says de Blasio faces an uphill battle, while speaking to CBS 2 in NYC.
“I don’t know whether or not his many trips to Cuba and his love for far left policies will bode well in a statewide primary,” Polanco said.
So far, the Democratic primary includes Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, who could make history as the first Black woman to hold the office, CBS reported
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams is also considering running for the top spot.
The combination of James, Williams and de Blasio, could split the vote of the far-left voting base, although Hochul is not exactly a “conservative”.
“To win a statewide race, you’re going to have to connect to the centrist sensibilities of New York Democrats and New York voters at large, Polanco said.
On the Republican side, Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin, former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and Andrew Giuliani have officially launched campaigns.
De Blasio infamously attempted to run for president in a failed bid, which saw the candidate blow thru close to a million dollars before dropping out of the race in a few weeks.
