Governor Andrew Cuomo handily beat Cynthia Nixon on Wednesday night, receiving more than 95% of the Democratic party's vote at the nominating convention.
Hillary Clinton gave a full-throated endorsement of the incumbent governor, 60, and Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, 59, who was nominated by the party for a second term.
“Now more than ever we need leaders who will stand up for progressive values,” Clinton said from the podium. “We need leaders who believe in producing results and getting things done. Leaders like Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul.”
Like many speakers before her, Clinton credited Cuomo — the Housing and Urban Development secretary when her husband was President — for New York's legalization of gay marriage, as well as the enactment of the tough SAFE Act gun-control law, creation of a statewide paid family-leave program, implementation of a $15-an-hour minimum wage and a free tuition program for some public college students.
Nixon needed at least 25% to get her name on the ballot and said she'll now launch a petition campaign to do it.