Hillary Clinton delivers keynote, introduces Gov. Kathy Hochul at NY Democratic Convention
MIDTOWN MANHATTAN (WABC) -- Governor Kathy Hochul spoke at the New York State Democratic Committee Convention in Midtown Manhattan Thursday, introduced by the keynote speaker, former presidential candidate and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Hochul, who took over when former Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned, is the likely candidate and presented her plan to help elect Democratic candidates up and down the ballot.
She also talked about her efforts to unify the party.
But as Hochul said, "I accept your nomination," demonstrators inside the convention began shouting, attempting to interrupt her speech.
Clinton, the first female major party presidential candidate, galvanized support for New York's first female Democratic gubernatorial nominee.
"Isn't it about time the state that gave birth to the women's suffrage movement that has been at the forefront of the progress and reform, isn't it about time we elect a woman as our governor?" Clinton said.
Some were chanting the name of Rep. Tom Suozzi, while others were holding signs calling for excluded worker funding in the budget.
"I'm proud to acknowledge dissent in our party," Hochul said. "I'm also proud to receive 85% of the vote in this room."
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If she wins, Hochul would be the first woman ever elected governor of New York state.
"Not only has she made history as the New York's first woman governor, her hardworking, collaborative approach is already delivering results and making government work for all New Yorkers," Senator Kirstin Gillibrand said.
Hochul is facing a challenge from New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who is trying to get enough support to get on the primary ballot.
Delegations from New York's 62 counties are nominating candidates for statewide offices in a midterm election year, in a battle against Republican the Democrats claim have no platform.
"They have the audacity, the temerity, to stand there time and again critiquing what we do in efforts to make lives of people better," Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs said. "While they stand by and do absolutely nothing."
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said the GOP is standing in the way of progress.
"We're trying to move the state and move the country forward, they want to turn back the clock," he said. "We're fighting to keep and bring people together. They trying to tear us apart. We fight for the people, they fight for the privileged few."
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Senator Charles Schumer was also on hand, promising to continue the fight for his home state.
"I'll be fighting like hell to bring home federal funding to make your districts and your communities better," Senator Charles Schumer said.
New York Attorney General Letitia James continued her war of words with former Governor Cuomo.
"It has become clear that the former governor will never accept any version of these events other than his own," she said. "And to achieve that, he is now claiming the mantle of victim."
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