Hochul's in for 2026 but crashes Stefanik's birthday, Giuliani is disbarred

And is there a congestion pricing compromise being floated?

Good afternoon — it’s Tuesday and World UFO Day. 👽

TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON:

• Hochul is running for a second term, she says, and crashes Stefanik’s birthday.

• Will there be a compromise on congestion pricing? Hochul weighs in.

• Giuliani has been disbarred. Read how he responded on social media.

• Cuomo has launched a new nonprofit and television ad.

• On The Bill looks at restaurant reservation robots.

☀️ Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Partly cloudy, low 60s. New York City: Partly cloudy, high 60s. (National Weather Service)

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(Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

🏃 Hochul commits to 2026 and crashes Stefanik’s birthday

☑️ But that’s not her top priority at the moment.

Is it news that an incumbent governor in New York is running for reelection? No.

• Pataki was the last incumbent governor who decided on his own not to run for reelection.

But is it news that an incumbent governor who just received her all-time lowest favorability and job approval ratings is running for reelection two years out? Sure.

Gov. Kathy HOCHUL said Tuesday that she plans to be her party’s nominee for governor in 2026, when the next election for governor is scheduled.

“2026 may be a long way off,” Hochul said. “I’m running. I’m preparing for that race. But my focus right now is this November.”

From now through November, Hochul said her top priority is to flip seats in Congress from Republicans in November while helping Democrats get reelected in New York.

“I’m working to get boots on the ground,” said Hochul, who’s also become a surrogate for President Joseph BIDEN’s reelection campaign in recent months.

“I’m going to continue my responsibility this year to deliver Hakeem JEFFRIES the House of Representatives and make him the speaker, continue to support Chuck SCHUMER but also deliver New York in a robust, big way for President Joe Biden this November,” she said.

🎂 And Hochul is making the case for that to donors, one way or another.

You know those email blasts you get that look like they’re from Donald Trump or Joe Biden themselves but they’re actually just a campaign staffer asking you for money?

It’s not unusual for those emails to include incendiary, personal attacks on their adversaries but this one takes the cake.

An email sent to donors from the Hochul campaign Tuesday with the subject line “Elise Stefanik’s birthday” was sure to get some eyeballs.