EXCLUSIVE: Two major unions throw support behind Gov. Cuomo, Kathleen Hochul ahead of Democratic primary

ALBANY — Two key labor unions are ramping up their efforts to help Gov. Cuomo and his pick for lieutenant governor ahead of next Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

 

The Hotel and Motel Trades Council is sending a mailer to members praising Cuomo's record.

And the powerful health care workers union, 1199 SEIU, on Monday formally endorsed Cuomo and his running mate, former Rep. Kathleen Hochul, and prepared an aggressive get-out-the-vote operation on their behalf.

The unions were instrumental in helping Cuomo secure the Working Families Party nomination in May after a brutal battle.

The Hotel and Motel Trades Council flyer going out this week urges members to "vote for the real Democratic team" next Tuesday.

"In four short years Governor Cuomo turned New York into national leader on major issues like gender equality, gun control, workers' rights, and universal pre-K for all," the flyer says.

Cuomo and Hochul are being challenged from the left in next Tuesday's primary by Fordham University School of Law professor Zephyr Teachout and Columbia Law School professor Tim Wu, respectively.

Hotel and Motel Trades Council Political Director Josh Gold dismissed Teachout as "a non-entity."

And he criticized Wu, who insiders believe has a shot to beat Hochul, for his concerns about over-regulating new industries like Airbnb, which the hotel industry has grave worries about.

SEIU 1199 Political Director Kevin Finnegan said the union is pushing Cuomo and Hochul in legislative districts with primaries where the union endorsed, particularly in the Bronx and Brooklyn.

"We did mailings, depending on the primaries, to all our members in districts with competitive races," Finnegan said. "And then we've done one to Democrats statewide."

On primary day, Finnegan said, the union will drive volunteers to the Cuomo get-out-the-vote effort in New York City and urban areas upstate.

Teachout dismissed the support, predicting a "historic upset" in both races.

"If I were a non-entity, then Gov. Cuomo wouldn't be sending out mailers, making phone calls and getting surrogates to attack us," Teachout said. "He'd be ignoring us, but he can't."