Who Wants to Be Governor of New York?

The surprise resignation of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo instantly upended the 2022 governor’s race in New York, opening the floodgates for a rush of candidates vying for the state’s highest office after more than a decade with Mr. Cuomo at the helm.

At least six candidates have formally begun campaigns for governor, the most powerful job in one of the country’s largest states, with the potential to shape policies with wide-ranging influence.

The race on the Democratic side is shaping up to be the first contested primary in decades, attracting candidates with history-making potential that will test racial, ideological and geographical lines in one of the nation’s liberal bastions.

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The current front-runner is Gov. Kathy Hochul, who replaced Mr. Cuomo in August and is running for a full term with all of the advantages of incumbency. Letitia James, the attorney general who was viewed as Ms. Hochul’s most serious competitor, announced in December that she was dropping out of the race.

Republicans, who have not won a statewide election in New York since 2002, face an uphill battle to reclaim the governor’s office, but they are hoping to replicate the party’s successes in the November 2021 off-year elections.

The field remains fluid, fractured and unpredictable, with the potential for others to join the fray ahead of the primary in June.

Here are the candidates:

Officially Running

The Democratic field has swelled with well-known political figures of diverse backgrounds since Mr. Cuomo resigned, while the contours of the Republican field began to emerge earlier in the year.

Kathy Hochul, 63, D

Ms. Hochul was the first Democrat to jump into the race, officially declaring her candidacy in August, after she ascended to the state’s top job following Mr. Cuomo’s resignation and made history as the state’s first female governor.

Ms. Hochul, a former congresswoman from the Buffalo area, previously served as Mr. Cuomo’s lieutenant governor for six years, a largely ceremonial role.

A moderate Democrat, Ms. Hochul has focused her first months as governor on responding to the pandemic and its economic fallout, hoping to use her time in office to introduce herself to voters and secure a full term.

Tom Suozzi, 59, D

Representative Tom Suozzi of Long Island entered the race in late November, casting himself as a centrist Democrat focused on lowering taxes and reducing crime, and as someone unafraid to confront the party’s left wing.

Mr. Suozzi, who is looking to cut into Ms. Hochul’s support among moderate and suburban voters, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016, after serving eight years as Nassau County executive.

Jumaane Williams, 45, D

Jumaane Williams, the New York City public advocate, formally declared his candidacy in mid-November, pitching himself as the candidate most suitable to become the standard-bearer of the party’s progressive left flank.

Mr. Williams, an activist who has described himself as a democratic socialist, ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor against Ms. Hochul in 2018, but came within six percentage points of defeating her.

Rob Astorino, 54, R

Rob Astorino, who served as Westchester County executive from 2010 to 2017, announced his bid for governor in May, marking his second run for the state’s highest office.

Mr. Astorino, who got his start as a radio producer, was the Republican nominee for governor in 2014, when Mr. Cuomo defeated him by more than 14 percentage points.

Mr. Astorino is seemingly intent on making a political comeback after being ousted as Westchester’s county executive in 2017 by George Latimer, a Democrat; he ran unsuccessfully for the State Senate in 2020.

Andrew Giuliani, 35, R

Andrew Giuliani, the son of the former New York City mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, launched his long-shot bid for governor in May, his first run for public office.

Mr. Giuliani, a former professional golfer who worked as a special assistant in Mr. Trump’s White House, was a contributor for Newsmax Media, the conservative media company, before entering the race.

Mr. Giuliani has embraced his connection and work for Mr. Trump, vowing to “Make Albany Great Again.”

Lee Zeldin, 41, R

Representative Lee Zeldin, a Republican from Long Island and staunch supporter of Mr. Trump, announced his candidacy in April as Mr. Cuomo became engulfed in scandal, touting his conservative credentials.

Mr. Zeldin, who was first elected to represent Suffolk in 2015, quickly picked up the support of most of his party’s county leaders while criticizing the left-leaning policies implemented by Democrats who control the State Capitol in Albany.

Mr. Zeldin will have to contend with his vote in Congress to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in a state where Mr. Trump remains unpopular. He was diagnosed with leukemia last year and has been receiving treatment, but said the disease would not affect his bid for governor.

Maybe Running

Others are exploring runs, with at least one big-city mayor hinting strongly that he intends to enter the race sooner rather than later.

Bill de Blasio, 60, D

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose second term ends this year, has told confidantes that he plans to run for governor and has filed paperwork for a potential run, while emphasizing in recent weeks that he intends to remain in public life.

Mr. de Blasio, who mounted an unsuccessful bid for president in the 2020 Democratic primary, would have to overcome low approval ratings, but would likely run on his achievements during his eight years as mayor, such as implementing free universal prekindergarten.

Dropped Out

Letitia James, 63, D

Ms. James, the state attorney general, announced her candidacy in late October after months of rumors, instantly positioning herself as one of the most formidable challengers to Ms. Hochul.

But in early December, she dropped out of the race, saying she would instead run for re-election as attorney general. “There are a number of important investigations and cases that are underway, and I intend to finish the job,” she said.

Ms. James, a Brooklyn Democrat who was hoping to build a coalition anchored by Black and Latino voters, as well as white progressives, could have become the first Black female governor in the nation.

She was elected attorney general in 2018, oversaw the investigation into the sexual harassment claims that led to Mr. Cuomo’s resignation and has garnered praise from liberals for suing the National Rifle Association and investigating President Donald J. Trump.