Cynthia Nixon made it official Monday, saying she would run for governor of New York in a challenge to Andrew Cuomo.
“I love New York. I’ve never lived anywhere else,” said Nixon in a promotional video released Monday. “But something has to change. We want our government to work again, on healthcare, ending mass incarceration, fixing our broken subway. We are sick of politicians who care more about headlines and power than they do about us. It can’t just be business as usual anymore.”
The announcement makes official something Nixon has teased in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Nixon’s team told TheWrap that the star was exploring all of her options.
I love New York, and today I'm announcing my candidacy for governor. Join us: https://t.co/9DwsxWW8xX pic.twitter.com/kYTvx6GZiD
— Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) March 19, 2018
“Many concerned New Yorkers have been encouraging Cynthia to run for office, and as she has said previously, she will continue to explore it. If and when such a decision is made, Cynthia will be sure to make her plans public,” said publicist Rebecca Sides Capellan previously.
Nixon has been critical of the Trump administration. Ahead of the State of the Union, Nixon pointed out that Trump’s first year in office has been “a dark year” for those in America “who value equal rights for all, or economic and racial justice, or want to combat climate change.”
She said that the “bleak” picture of Trump’s America has a silver lining: “America is still a democracy and the people can hold their leaders accountable,” she wrote. “That’s why it’s time to take our government back.”
Cuomo, the brother of CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, has long been a part of the New York Democratic politics. His father, Mario Cuomo, also led the state as governor for three terms between 1983 and 1994. Despite the legacy, Andrew’s leadership has come under growing criticism in recent months, with particular ire saved for regular users of New York City’s crumbling subway system.
In one instance highlighted by the New York Times, the governor diverted critical funds for city’s subways in order to bail out a bankrupt ski resort in upstate New York.
The “Sex and the City” star presents a potent challenge to Cuomo. Zephyr Teachout, an unknown primary challenger against Cuomo, snagged 34 percent of the vote in 2014.