Members of the New York State Democratic Committee have urged Gov. Kathy Hochul to drop Jay Jacobs as the state party chair after Democrats lost several races on election night.
In a letter signed by hundreds, including sitting members of the state Senate and Assembly, Democrats are asking Hochul to bring in new leadership.
“The writing is on the wall and has been for some time: Jay Jacobs is not fit to serve as Chair of the State Democratic Party, and it’s time for Governor Hochul to work with the party to elect a focused, determined, unifying party leader,” the letter read.
Jacobs was appointed to the position by Hochul’s predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, who resigned after a scandal last year.
The Democratic State Committee commended voters throughout the U.S. for combating “a ‘red wave’ and instead flipped several state legislatures and gubernatorial seats to democratic control.”
However, they said New York has “failed to commit the time, energy, and resources necessary to maintain our deep-blue status: 4 Congressional seats flipped to Republican control, and Governor Hochul won by a slim majority— the smallest in two decades.”
Hochul opted to keep Jacobs in the role through her election.
Jacobs could not immediately be reached for comment.
Hochul last week defended Jacobs, after Democrats, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, called for him to step down.
“We are not making any decisions. I think he did a great job as chair, and he continues as chair. I am not changing anything,” Hochul said Thursday.
Although she won her race, it was the closest gubernatorial contest in years and Democrats fared poorly in parts of the state.
Democrats lost several House races in the Hudson Valley and on Long Island, including a handful of Assembly seats in Brooklyn and Queens.
According to the statement, the Democratic State Committee say they’re ready to work with Hochul to elect “a real party leader who embodies actual democratic values and is – as our party website clearly states – ‘committed to building a party that ensures New Yorkers have progressive, fair, and dedicated leaders at every level of government.’”
