Grand Island Supervisor Nate McMurray is the Democratic challenger to Rep. Chris Collins, a Republican, for New York's 27th Congressional District. But, Governor Andrew Cuomo doesn't think he has the best shot at winning the race.
Cuomo visited Buffalo Thursday to sign the Middle Class Recovery Act and announce funding had been approved for another piece of Buffalo Billion II. He waded into the discussion surrounding the congressional seat and who is best suited to take on Collins.
"There are people, Democrats, who want to win," the governor explained. "And if you want to win, what you try to do is get the strongest candidate. The overwhelming feeling is that Kathy Hochul would be the strongest candidate."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Joseph Crowley, NY-14, have both called Cuomo hoping he will ask Hochul to run for Congress, according to the governor. He said the decision is up to her.
"If you ask me who would be the best candidate to run and win, who has the best shot? I think it's Kathy Hochul," Cuomo said. "It's moot because Kathy Hochul doesn't want to run and it's her decision."
Hochul's office has said the lieutenant governor has no plans to run for the seat.
Today, @NYGovCuomo said that he and @NancyPelosi think I'm not the best choice to challenge my opponent. Clearly I'm not part of their inside Albany/DC game. Who cares? This is not an era where outsiders call the shots. No one owns me. No one owns the people of NY 27. We decide.
— Nate McMurray for Congress (@Nate_McMurray) April 19, 2018
McMurray responded to the governor's comments on Twitter, saying it shows he is not part of the insider game in Washington D.C. or Albany.
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