The Nation Endorses Cynthia Nixon for Governor of New York

“Nixon has the life experience to be a governor of and for the people,” says magazine

Cynthia Nixon
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The Nation endorsed New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon on Wednesday in her primary challenge to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

In explaining their decision, the editors of the iconic liberal publication said they were pleased to see Nixon pushing Cuomo to the left on various issues and said that her life experience more than made up for her lack of political expertise.

“Nixon has the life experience to be a governor of and for the people. If elected, she won’t be beholden to the entrenched interests and political machines that dominate state government,” The Nation wrote.

“The celebrity that Nixon earned from her career as an actor is the capital that makes her run not only possible, but viable. That she has long chosen to use her fame to lift up the movements for public education, LGBTQ rights, renewable energy, and housing justice speaks to her character,” they added.

The publication also expressed its disappointment with Cuomo, citing his support for charter schools and his opposition to campaign finance reforms.

Cuomo, a centrist Democrat who is widely seen as eyeing a run for president in 2020, must first lock up his 2018 re-election in the Empire State. He is unlikely to face a significant challenge from Republicans in the general election and his primary battle against Nixon is Cuomo’s only real obstacle.

While Nixon remains a long-shot to end up in Albany, there is evidence that the “Sex & The City” star could give Cuomo a real fight. In a 2014 primary challenge, Zephyr Teachout, a virtually unknown candidate, secured 34 percent of the vote.

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