ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul is adding NAACP leader Hazel Dukes to her growing list of endorsements.
Dukes, president of the civil rights group’s New York’s chapter, heaped praise on Hochul in an announcement Monday as the governor enjoys early frontrunner status for what could become a crowded Democratic primary next year.
“She has shown an unparalleled ability to listen and govern with compassion,” Dukes said in a statement. “Throughout her life and career, Governor Kathy Hochul has consistently stood up for the voiceless and marginalized in our communities.”
She added that she is looking forward to working with Hochul for “years to come.”
The African American activist was a longtime booster of Hochul’s predecessor, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. She often referred to Cuomo as her “son” and appeared with the disgraced pol at a number of closed press events in the months leading up to his resignation amid sexual harassment allegations.
Hochul referred to Dukes as her “mom on Earth” at an August event in Harlem where she announced then-state Sen. Brian Benjamin would be her pick for lieutenant governor.
“I lost my mom seven years ago and I feel her loss every single day, but I feel her strength. And somehow I think mom, you had something to do with all this, but my mom on earth is Hazel Dukes,” she said at the time. “She has befriended me, she has stood with me through thick and thin; she’s my spiritual adviser, she’s my mom adviser.”
A Buffalo native who served nearly six years as lieutenant governor to Cuomo, with whom she maintained a frosty relationship, Hochul has already shored up support from New York Democratic party head Jay Jacobs, influential fundraising giant Emily’s List, and numerous Democratic county leaders across the state since announcing her intention to seek a full term next year.
The early encouragement from Duke also comes a week after Hochul was dubbed the “early front-runner” in potential primary matchups in a Marist poll. The sitting governor beat out state Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams in a three-way race, the survey found.
Neither James nor Williams has officially declared they are running, although both have expressed interest.
Several others Democrats could also jump in the race, with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and U.S. Rep. Thomas Suozzi exploring options and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone rumored to be interested in statewide office.
Neither de Blasio nor Suozzi was included in the Marist poll.
Hochul thanked Duke for her endorsement in a statement released by her campaign.
“It is a tremendous honor to be endorsed by Dr. Hazel Dukes,” she said. “Dr. Duke’s dedication to lifting the voices of the underrepresented, promoting civil rights, and fighting for the poor has made her a hero both here in New York and across the country.
“We have worked together for years in the pursuit of social justice and equality for all, and I look forward to relying on her support as governor to deliver an agenda that builds on that work and makes progress for all New Yorkers,” Hochul added.
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