Where New York Democrats are on Biden, including Hochul, Jeffries, and others

And This Week in New York History.

Good afternoon — it’s Monday and Raspberry Day.

MONDAY, JULY 8, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON:

• It’s the second week after the debate that made some Democrats question if President Joseph R. BIDEN should be their nominee.

• Where are New York’s top Democrats and delegates on Biden’s candidacy and what have they said?

• This Week in New York History: Learn about why July 4 is different for New York and the Crystal Palace that once stood in Bryant Park.

☀️ Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Chance of storms, high 60s. New York City: Mostly cloudy, high 70s. (National Weather Service)

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(New York Governor’s Office)

🗣️ Some top N.Y. Democrats want Biden to step aside

🤝 But most Democrats from the Empire State are still standing by the incumbent president.

The race for president has eaten up the news cycle across the country but particularly here in New York.

Gov. Kathy HOCHUL was in New York City Monday with transportation officials from the Biden administration to announce grant funding for the Gateway Tunnel.

• That’s a planned expansion of the corridor between New Jersey and Manhattan.

When it was her turn to speak, Hochul gave what sounded like a stump speech for Biden, who she wants to remain the party’s nominee this year.

“It starts at the very top. If you don't have a president of the U.S. who's committed to this, it doesn't happen,” Hochul said. 

“I think we give him a huge round of applause for not just loving Amtrak, loving trains, but being truly the embodiment of what an infrastructure president actually is and does,” she continued. “Let's give President Biden a round of applause.”

That wasn’t an unusual statement from Hochul, who’s become a key surrogate for Biden in recent days after his candidacy was questioned by Democrats over his recent debate performance.

• Hochul didn’t take questions from reporters after the event.

(Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press)

🏛️ And she’s now on the front lines of the national race.

Hochul was one of several Democratic governors who convened at the White House last week to speak with Biden about his campaign and emerged in full support of the incumbent.

“I’m here to tell you today that President Joe Biden is in it to win it and all of us said we pledge our support to him because the stakes could not be higher,” Hochul said. “We feel very confident in his abilities.”

New York City Mayor Eric ADAMS — who fell out of favor as a surrogate for Biden’s campaign over his criticism of the president’s immigration policies — defended him Monday as well.

“I know what it is to have a bad day and bad night, bad moment, and people define you by that,” Adams said. 

Again, not a surprise. Adams doesn’t want to dig a deeper hole than he’s already in.

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. SCHUMER hasn’t called for Biden to step down.

😲 But a pair of N.Y. Democrats did offer a surprise Monday, albeit not publicly.