ALBANY — Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Andrew Cuomo — under pressure to reject support from the union-backed Working Families Party, which is being investigated by the feds — said last night he would not seek its support during its nominating convention this weekend.
“We will not be submitting Andrew Cuomo’s name for the nomination,” said a spokesman for the attorney general.
“There are several open issues that need to be considered,” he said, “including but not limited to an ongoing federal investigation as well as policy and procedural issues.”
Cuomo said he would put off the decision until the probe, by the US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, is concluded or no later than September.
A spokesman for the left-of-center WFP said that “the best available candidate” would be selected to replace Cuomo but that it could “revisit this decision” should he change his mind.
A Cuomo refusal to accept its endorsement could put the less-than-a-decade-old party out of existence — since state law requires that the gubernatorial candidate of a party receive at least 50,000 votes to secure legal recognition.
The WFP — which has become a powerful force influencing Democratic candidates in New York City Council races and an influential one in statewide contests — is under investigation in connection with the operations of its for-profit campaign arm, Data & Field Services, which has sold its services at considerable cost to candidates the party has endorsed.
Aides said Cuomo expected the decision to put off accepting the WFP’s endorsement to spur the US Attorney’s Office to complete its investigation by the end of summer.
Cuomo, who is running on a platform of ethics reform and fiscal restraint, has been criticized by Republicans and editorials for considering accepting support from the WFP because of the ongoing investigation and because it aggressively supports the large taxing and spending policies he opposes.
Earlier this week, a bill was introduced in the Democratic-controlled Senate that could allow the WFP to remain a legally recognized party even if its candidate for governor doesn’t get 50,000 votes.
The measure, introduced at the WFP’s request, has so far received only lukewarm support from the Legislature’s Democratic leadership.
