Weird. Hochul just got in on that trend.

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Jul 30, 2024 View in browser   By Jason Beeferman and Nick Reisman Gov. Kathy Hochul called former President Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance ”weird” after her news conference touting a child tax credit expansion. Hochul, the once ride-or-die Bidenite, is now all in for Harris. | Alex Wong/Getty Images KEEPIN’ IT WEIRD: Gov. Kathy Hochul got in on the weird fest today. The Democratic governor, Biden’s one-time biggest fan, jumped into fray today when asked about former President Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance, who said three years ago that “a bunch of childless cat ladies” from the Democratic party “effectively run this country.” “All I can do is shake my head,” Hochul said of Vance’s comments after her news conference touting a child tax credit expansion. “They’ve been called weird. They’re incredibly weird. They’re just beyond the pale in terms of what is being said.” While it’s a unique line of attack — and an echo of what other nationally-profiled Democrats have been saying — it’s also indicative of Hochul’s new role: the once ride-or-die Bidenite is now all in for Harris. In the past week, Hochul has recalibrated without skipping a beat to boost the vice president and echo the talking points — weird and all — of a presidential campaign that once was all about Biden only nine days ago. (Yes, it’s only been 9 days). But some Democrats in New York question whether Hochul — a Buffalo area native whose rust-belt version of politics melded well with Biden’s “Scranton Joe” persona — can build a similar relationship with the former California prosecutor now topping the ticket. “Harris brings a different, cool, California multi-ethnic role to this,” one New York Democrat, who was granted anonymity to speak frankly, told Playbook. “It’s a relationship that’s still being built, if you will.” Those in the Biden and Hochul camps who spoke with Playbook described it as a natural shift for Hochul, and noted the two women leaders have enjoyed a chummy relationship for years. If you recall, Vice President Harris came to campaign for the governor during her nailbiter of a reelection run in 2022. She was also with Hochul in the wake of the Buffalo mass shooting that year, where Hochul said she saw Harris’ “very large heart” up close. Hochul, one of the most prominent governors with ready access to the nation’s media capital, can also take on a surrogate role for Harris on the issue of abortion, helping to shore up Democrats’ standing with swing female voters whom former President Donald Trump needs. And when Biden stepped down, Hochul whipped New York Democrats within hours to get behind Harris and was allegedly high on the list of people Harris wanted to call once she was coronated as the would-be nominee (The two never talked because of Hochul’s bad cell reception near Lake George, according to the governor). As Democrats fight for control over the House, with six seats up for grabs in New York, Hochul has been adamant about her moves to expand the infrastructure of the state party specifically to aid down-ballot candidates. She has framed that push around giving a potential Harris administration a Democratic majority in Congress. Last weekend, New York Democrats knocked on 20,000 voters’ doors in seven House districts in addition to contacting 140,000 voters so far, the party said today. Hochul’s political allies say the governor will continue to play a key role nationally for the party heading into November. “New York is going to play a pivotal role in the convention and I can tell you the momentum shift has been tremendous and there’s a lot of energy and excitement out there,” Erie County Democratic Committee Chair Jeremy Zellner said. “Kathy Hochul is one of the best retail politicians in a generation and she’d be an asset to any campaign.” — Jason Beeferman and Nick Reisman   Live briefings, policy trackers, and procedural, industry, and people intelligence from POLITICO Pro Analysis gives you the insights you need to focus your policy strategy this election cycle. Secure your seat.      From the Capitol Gov. Kathy Hochul is touring across the state to solicit feedback from parents, school administrators and teachers about smartphone use in New York schools. | Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul PLAYING TELEPHONE: Hochul on Tuesday said it’s too early to say whether the state will give school districts funding to buy pouches for students’ cell phones — as she continues to weigh a statewide ban on smartphone use in schools. Hochul told reporters she hasn’t put together the budget proposal just yet. “Let's not get ahead of ourselves yet, right now I’m on this listening tour,” Hochul told reporters during a press briefing, referring to a tour she launched across the state to solicit feedback from parents, school administrators and teachers. “The issue about the pouches comes into play if there’s a mandate. A lot of school districts are doing this already,” she added. The governor also maintained that schools have received “historically high” amounts of funding over the last two years. Earlier this month, she signaled that legislation as well as executive action are both on the table, arguing that the district-by-district approach “does not work.” — Madina Touré  FOLLOWING THE MONEY: Hochul is tapping into a little-noticed $85 million infrastructure fund in the state budget to help bolster the long-gestating Second Avenue subway expansion. The governor this morning announced $54 million in spending for the MTA to extend the Second Avenue line to 125th Street in East Harlem. The money is coming from the New York Special Infrastructure Account. It’s a somewhat obscure pot of cash in the state budget that has been allocated since 2016 to help pay for “economic development or infrastructure projects” — one of many discretionary funds in the $239 billion state budget the governor controls. Hochul’s announcement was made a day before the MTA’s monthly board meeting. It also comes after she promised to find an alternative funding source for $16.5 billion in infrastructure projects for the region’s creaky mass transit system following a “pause” for the congestion pricing toll program in June. — Nick Reisman From City Hall IT’S OFFICIAL: City Comptroller Brad Lander announced his bid for mayor this morning, confirming one of the worst-kept secrets in New York political circles and formalizing a serious challenge to New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection prospects. Lander rolled out his plans, reported by POLITICO more than six weeks ago, in a pre-recorded video focused on affordability and public safety. Read more from POLITICO’s Joe Anuta PROJECT PUERTO RICO?: Some of New York’s Hispanic political leaders are protesting a D.C. panel on U.S.-Puerto Rico policy, saying the discussion should be canceled because of its ties to the organization behind the controversial Project 2025 policy agenda. City Council members Alexa Avilés and Tiffany Cabán, along with Assemblymember Jessica González Rojas and former Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito blasted the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute for planning to hold a Wednesday panel that features a speaker from the Heritage Foundation, the right-leaning organization behind Project 2025. Project 2025 is a conservative effort that puts together detailed policy and personnel plans for a Republican administration to implement, should one be elected this November. Another speaker on the panel onced chaired the group “Latinos for Trump.” “At a time when democracy is under siege, we are appalled that elected representatives of the Puerto Rico statehood party and affiliated groups are teaming up with the Heritage Foundation,” the electeds, along with other politicians and organizers from across the country, said in a joint statement released today. “For both the Puerto Rican diaspora of 5.8 million and our home country of Puerto Rico, this would be disastrous and worsen the already untenable colonial situation under the United States,” they added, referencing Project 2025. Former President Donald Trump has distanced himself from the policy blueprint, saying in a Truth Social post this month: “I have not seen it, have no idea who is in charge of it, and, unlike our very well received Republican Platform, had nothing to do with it.” POLITICO reported earlier today that Project 2025’s director is stepping down, but the effort will continue. And Democrats are anxious to tie it to Trump regardless. “If you have not read this, please read it, but not before you go to bed because you’ll be left late at night with nightmares when you realize what they're planning to do to our country when they seize the power,” Hochul said earlier this month, while holding up a copy of the policy proposal. — Jason Beeferman IN OTHER NEWS —  COMPETING FOR COMPTROLLER: Here’s who could run for New York City Comptroller now that Brad Lander has thrown his hat in the ring for mayor. (City & State)  — CHILD TAX CREDIT: Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to send up to $330 in checks to many New York parents is set to become a reality by late August. (Times Union) — TOLL EVADERS PAY LESS: The MTA has reduced fines for toll evaders on certain bridges from $100 to $50. (Gothamist) Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? Read it here.   Follow us on Twitter Jason Beeferman @JasonBeeferman   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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