New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and his running mate Kathy Hochul held off a challenge from two law school professors in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. But, gubernatorial challenger Zephyr Teachout won over one third of the vote statewide, and 43 percent of the 16,000 votes in Suffolk County.
Cuomo did not appear publicly after his victory, but instead issued a statement. In it, he congratulates his chosen running mate, former Western New York Congresswoman Kathy Hochul for her win over Tim Wu. Cuomo also for the first time mentions his defeated opponent Zephyr Teachout by name, saying she and Wu ran a “spirited campaign” and credits them for “having the courage to make their voices heard."
Teachout, who won one third of the vote, the highest percentage of any challenger in over 40 years of primaries in the state, spoke to excited supporters.
“I will not be your next governor,” Teachout said. “But the Democrats of this state have been heard.”
The race now shifts to the general election, where Cuomo and Hochul face Republican candidate Rob Astorino and his running mate Chris Moss.
