NY gubernatorial primaries will see a crowded field of hopefuls

ALBANY — Get ready for the most crowded gubernatorial primaries in New York in recent political history.

Democrats and Republicans appear to be headed for multicandidate primaries in June after challengers from each side submitted more than 100,000 petitions this week to qualify for the ballot.

It’s a sign Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican Lee Zeldin haven’t unified support despite winning their party conventions earlier this year.

On the Democratic side, Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) submitted 40,000 signatures, well more than the 15,000 necessary. New York Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who has the backing of the progressive Working Families Party, said he, too, submitted about 40,000.

On the Republican side, Harry Wilson, a business owner who has pledged to spend $12 million of his own money on the campaign, submitted nearly 37,000 signatures.

Also filing were Rob Astorino, the former Westchester County executive and 2014 gubernatorial candidate, and Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, according to the state Board of Elections.

The Republicans are seeking to best Rep. Zeldin (R-Shirley), who is the GOP’s preferred candidate after winning the party’s designation at the state convention in March.

Wilson said he gathered the most signatures ever for a GOP primary, proving grassroots voters aren’t sold on Zeldin and want a choice.

“This is the broadest repudiation of a convention designee in history,” Wilson told Newsday in an interview. “There is an encouraging amount of interest among Republican grassroots voters who want a primary.”

Wilson contended he could win more independent voters and crossover Democrats than Zeldin, a strong ally of former President Donald Trump.

Allies of Hochul and Zeldin, which include state party leaders, could challenge the legal validity of the challengers’ signatures, but would have to disqualify thousands of them to push a candidate below the 15,000 threshold.

The influx of candidates comes nearly eight months after Andrew M. Cuomo resigned as governor while facing a likely impeachment vote over sexual harassment allegations and other alleged abuses of power. Cuomo, a Democrat was in office nearly 11 years, had routinely routed Republican challengers and those from his own party.

Hochul ascended from the lieutenant governor post in August. She amassed more than $25 million in campaign funds and a slew of important union endorsements. She also has a huge lead in public opinion polls.

But that hasn’t discouraged challengers who believe Hochul’s support is wide but thin and that voters still don’t know her.

“We have been out there talking directly to New Yorkers across the state and it’s clear, they want a governor who will reduce crime, cut taxes and give our children an opportunity to succeed,” Suozzi said in a statement.

By Yancey Roy

yancey.roy@newsday.com@yanceyroy