Gov. Cuomo is hitting the hustings.
With passage of the state budget behind him, Cuomo will attend a “Blue Wave” rally in Holtsville, Suffolk County on Sunday to help elect Long Island Democrats to the state Senate and Congress, according to a state Democratic Party invite.
Cuomo, who faces a Democratic primary from Cynthia Nixon, will have an opportunity to promote his own bid for a third term as well at the 2 p.m. event being held at IBEW Local 1049.
“Join Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and New York State Democrats for a 2018 Blue Wave Rally on Long Island,” the “Long Island Kick-Off Rally” invite put out by the New York State Democrat Party said.
“This is an important year with the balance of power at stake in the NY State Senate and the US House. And Long Island is an important part of that story. We want to hold GOP extremists in Congress accountable for their votes and elect true blue state senators here on Long Island, and across New York State,” the notice says.
Long Island will be a key battleground in determining which party runs the divided state Senate.
Suffolk County Water Authority Chairman Jim Gaughran, a Democrat, announced a rematch against GOP incumbent state Sen. Carl Marcellino, who won in a squeaker two years ago.
Some Suffolks Democrats are wondering if their party chairman, Rich Schaffer, is up to the task of recruiting other qualified candidates for several of the Senate seats.
“The biggest obstacle to a Democratic State Senate and winning seats on Long Island is Rich Schaffer,” griped one Long Island Democratic insider.
Schaeffer did not return a call for comment. But other Democrats defended his work.
Meanwhile Cuomo will attend a fundraiser Tuesday at the Harlem Tavern to raise dough for Shelley Mayer, an assemblywoman who is running for a vacant state Senate seat in Westchester’s 37th District. The special election will be held April 24.
The seat became vacant when George Latimer was elected Westchester County executive last fall. Mayer is running against Republican Julie Kilian.