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Who would you support in a 2018 NY Democratic gubernatorial primary if these were the choices?
- Gov. Andrew Cuomo
- Actress Cynthia Nixon
- Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner
- Former State Sen. Terry Gipson
Terry Gipson said since Washington, D.C. is out of the business of governing, that New York needs a governor willing to be a strong leader.
Gipson, a Rhinebeck resident who represented Putnam and Dutchess for one term as state senator in the 41st district, revealed he is considering launching a Democratic primary campaign against Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running for a third term.
"I don't see our governor being a strong leader," Gipson said. "Our future is in danger."
While he was in the state senate, Gipson said the executive office was not helpful in getting progressive legislation to move forward, despite being a Democratic governor in a Democratic leaning state.
"We need to look at things that will help a wide variety of New Yorkers," Gipson said. "We are allowing the federal government to threaten our health care, why isn't our state doing something about it? We now have a conservative Supreme Court, why hasn't the governor gotten behind a woman's right to choose?
Gipson said he would also like to see universal voter registration and campaign finance reform.
"We need to get corporate money out of our government," Gipson said. "These are all progressive ideas and the governor has not taken a leadership role.
The progressive wave Bernie Sanders created in 2016 is one Gipson hopes to use if he chooses to run. He said he plans to rally grassroots organizations behind his campaign.
"That wave is still alive and very much growing," Gipson said. "We can do really great things for our state."
In 2014, Cuomo was challenged in a primary by Zephyr Teachout before defeating Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino to win a second term in the general election. Astorino and Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro are considering challenging Cuomo on the Republican line.
Gipson said he will take his time, do his due diligence and try to meet with as many groups as I can before he makes a decision.
"The political landscape is fluid and always changing," Gipson said.
.Gipson was defeated for re-election in 2014 by Sue Serino. Serino defeated him again in 2016.
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