Gov. Kathy Hochul is supporting state Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs’ bid for another term, despite his decision not to endorse Zohran Mamdani during the 2025 New York City mayoral race — a stance that angered many of the democratic socialist’s backers.
Hochul said she remains firmly behind Jacobs and expects him to comfortably defeat Caitlin Ogden, the Democratic Party leader in upstate Otsego County.
“It is time for Jay Jacobs to demonstrate that he will continue as the leader,” Hochul told City & State New York following a campaign rally in Albany Saturday. “As head of the state party, he is my chairman. He’ll be reelected, no problem.”
Jacobs drew criticism after refusing to join Hochul in supporting Mamdani, who secured the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor by defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the primary.
He maintained a neutral position even as Cuomo launched an independent general-election campaign.
“Mr. Mamdani and I agree that America’s most serious challenge is the widening income gap across the country,” Jacobs said at the time. “But we fundamentally disagree about how that problem should be addressed.
“As I told him directly, I also strongly disagree with his views on Israel, as well as certain other important policy positions.”
Jacobs told The Post last fall that he planned to seek another two-year term as state Democratic chairman.
Jacobs, who also leads the Nassau County Democratic Party, is widely viewed as a moderate voice for Democrats competing in suburban and upstate swing districts. He has held the state chairmanship during two separate periods spanning a decade, serving under former Gov. David Paterson, Cuomo and Hochul.
The state Democratic Committee’s 480 members are scheduled to vote Oct. 1 on whether to give Jacobs another term. Some party insiders, however, are pushing to remove him over his refusal to support Mamdani.
“Jacobs insulted the Democratic nominee in the largest city in the country. We should stand behind our candidates,” said Erica Vladimir, a committee member representing Manhattan’s 76th Assembly District on the Upper East Side.
“Jacobs cannot call the party a big tent while refusing to help hold it up. Jay Jacobs is not listening to New York’s Democratic voters.”
Vladimir praised Ogden for helping energize Democrats in Otsego County and said Ogden’s experience as a professional fundraiser could help bring more money into the state party.
Jacobs said he welcomes the contest and is prepared to defend his position.
“I take nothing for granted,” Jacobs said Sunday.
Still, he acknowledged the value of support from Hochul and other elected officials. “It’s important to have the support of the governor and other elected officials,” he said. “I look forward to another two-year term.”
Jacobs said he has spoken extensively with lawmakers and Democratic county leaders, though he declined to identify those he has consulted.
He also conceded that a “substantial” number of party activists may ultimately back Ogden in the leadership vote.
Ogden told The Post that her campaign is focused on building a state Democratic Party that is “responsive to the will of the voters.”
“Whether they choose a centrist or a progressive — Democratic Socialists of America — they are Democrats,” Ogden said. “It is our duty to support them.”
“I will be a servant leader, not a party boss. I lead from the front,” she added. “There is a statewide hunger for a leader with a vision. We are in a new era with new challenges.”
