New York’s Democratic governor eked out a reelection win. But how much did the Democratic Party have to do with it?

Some politicos are giving more credit to the Working Families Party, which, despite ideological differences with Gov. Kathy Hochul, mounted an 11th-hour push to put her over the edge against Rep. Lee Zeldin. The progressive third party spent half-a-million dollars organizing 60 canvasses and phone banks, sending 2 million text messages and making 250,000 calls, our Sally Goldenberg, Joe Anuta and Anna Gronewold report.

The WFP surely wanted to avoid a Zeldin win, but also had its own interests at play: it needed to secure enough general election votes to keep its ballot line, which it managed to do and then some. In the end, Hochul’s 325,000-plus vote margin (out of 5.7 million cast) of victory included nearly 250,000 ballots cast on the WFP line.

Hochul’s own campaign apparatus has drawn criticism. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander said he didn’t hear from the campaign until 10 days before the election, while Council Member Tiffany Cabán warned of her western Queens neighborhood “not being touched once by the Hochul campaign.”

The biggest punchingbag, though, is Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs, who is taking blame not just for an uncomfortably close governor’s race but for more consequential Democratic losses in almost every competitive congressional district in the state. After Hochul came to his defense last week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams offered another vote of confidence from the Somos conference in Puerto Rico this weekend. He said Jacobs “brought home” the governor’s race for Hochul and “has been a real steady hand at the wheel.”

The left flank of the party disagrees, rather vehemently. A group of state lawmakers and Democratic Party members have signed a draft letter calling for Hochul to oust Jacobs, the Daily News reports. “The State Democratic Party — led by Cuomo appointee Jay Jacobs — failed to commit the time, energy and resources necessary to maintain our deep-blue status,” they write.

IT’S MONDAY and it could snow in the Capital Region this week. Got tips, suggestions or thoughts? Let us know ... By email: [email protected] and [email protected], or on Twitter: @erinmdurkin and @annagronewold

WHERE’S KATHY? Making an announcement in Buffalo.

WHERE’S ERIC? Making a cultural announcement, meeting with members of the European Parliament, making an affordable housing announcement, and speaking at Holy Cross Brooklyn Outreach Center’s first anniversary.

“With June Primaries on Horizon, Council Members Mull Election Night Lessons in Surf and Sun,” by THE CITY’s Katie Honan: “It’s not ‘We don’t like Republicans,’ it’s, ‘What do we stand for?” she told THE CITY. ‘I think people are on edge about not just public safety and the economy, what you hear about, but they’re on edge about schools, they’re on edge about jobs... they’re on edge about everything,’ she said. ‘And so you have to be able to meet them where they’re at. And I think if you don’t do that, then people are going to react.’ For Joe Borelli, the Republican Council’s minority leader from Staten Island’s South Shore, he said the results of the gubernatorial race serve as a “heat map” of where they could potentially pick up more seats. There are currently five registered Republicans in the 51-member body. ‘You find the blotches of red and pink and you go there,’ he told THE CITY of Republican support across the city.”

“Transit Chief Makes Rare Stop in Puerto Rico to Push Pols for More Cash,” by The City’s Katie Honan and Jose Martinez: “As New York’s political class descended on San Juan this week for their annual post-Election Day gathering, lawmakers and lobbyists were joined by an out-of-the ordinary guest. Janno Lieber, the MTA chairperson and CEO, made his first trip to the Somos Conference, where he called for legislators to find new sources of revenue for a system imperiled by a looming fiscal cliff because transit ridership is well below pre-pandemic levels. Transit insiders, former brass and conference attendees couldn’t recall previous MTA chairs ever attending the tropical confab. But with so many lawmakers in one place, Lieber underscored the importance of helping the MTA avoid a financial collapse once more than $15 billion in federal emergency aid runs out — possibly as soon as 2024.”

“Migrant crisis costing NYC ‘at least’ $600M a year, fiscal watchdog figures,” by New York Post’s  Bernadette Hogan and David Meyer: “The city will spend at least $596 million a year to provide shelter, education, health care and legal aid to thousands of asylum seekers who’ve arrived in recent months, its Independent Budget Office said Sunday. The IBO estimate — requested by Staten Island political leaders — was calculated based on 17,500 refugees currently living in city-run shelters or under the city’s care in hotels. And the price tag could balloon dramatically. ‘The arrival of an additional 10,000 asylum seekers — assuming the current mix of households remains consistent — would increase costs by around $246 million,’ IBO Acting Director George Sweeting wrote.”

The black market strangled California’s legal weed industry. Now it’s coming for New York, by POLITICO’s Julian Shen-Berro and Shannon Young: Inside a Brooklyn smoke shop, past rows of bongs and other paraphernalia, a display case is piled high with legal hemp and CBD — but a store employee has some advice. “That’s not the stuff you want,” he confides to a reporter who had been wordlessly eyeing the display. Unprompted, the worker reaches behind the counter — but not before idly musing, “you look like a cop” — and produces a plastic shopping bag containing what he says are genuine marijuana gummies, imported from California. “I can sell you mushrooms, too,” he adds. It’s become a familiar scene in New York City. The state legalized adult-use marijuana more than a year ago but is yet to issue a single dispensary license. The result has been a weed free-for-all.

— Federal judge sets back New York cannabis licensing, by POLITICO’s Mona Zhang: A federal judge has temporarily blocked New York from issuing its first recreational marijuana retail licenses in certain regions, rattling the state’s nascent cannabis industry. U.S. District Court Judge Gary Sharpe has granted a temporary restraining order to Variscite, which challenged the marijuana licensing scheme for violating the dormant Commerce Clause. The injunction applies to five geographic areas: Finger Lakes, Central New York, Western New York, Mid-Hudson and Brooklyn.

“Every county moved further right in one of New York’s closest races for governor,” by Times Union’s Alexandra Harris: “While Gov. Kathy Hochul secured a full term Tuesday as New York governor, leading with more than 320,000 votes against U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, all counties in the state reported an increase in Republican Party margins compared to the 2020 presidential election. From North Country to New York City, the margin of victory won by Democrats narrowed in each county and grew in Republican-won counties. While there were more Democratic than Republican votes for governor in several counties, every New York county saw a decline in Democratic margins compared to 2020, revealing the extent of expanded Republican favor.”

— “Hochul & Zeldin's Best NYC Blocks: A Neighborhood Breakdown,” by Patch’s Nick Garber

“Rep. Zeldin taking supporter calls about running for RNC chair, longtime adviser says,” by NBC News’ Jonathan Allen: “Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., who lost a surprisingly close race for governor last week, has spoken with GOP elected officials and party activists who want him to run for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee, his media consultant told NBC News. ‘He has received calls from around the country,’ John Brabender said Sunday. ‘It’s likely that he will at least explore it. … He’s fielding calls, talking to people, listening to them, but it has not gone beyond that.’”

“A Full Term in Hand, What's Governor Hochul's Agenda?” by Gotham Gazette’s Samar Khurshid: “Kathy Hochul made history last week, becoming the first woman to be elected governor of New York. Hochul, a Democrat who took over in August 2021 after Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned in disgrace, will now serve a full four-year term with the opportunity to more fully craft her agenda. But she already has a lengthy set of priorities either in motion or that she has promised to pursue, and there is more that others expect her to address, whether they voted for or against her. Though Hochul had a far more extensive campaign platform than her Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, she did not propose a broad vision for the next four years beyond continuing the work already underway in the state and the agenda that she pursued over her initial year-plus in office.”

#UpstateAmerica: A 98-year old North Tonawanda man has never been to a Bills game. So he is being treated to one.

How blood-and-guts headlines propelled Republicans in New York, by POLITICO’s Erin Durkin: Republicans nationwide leaned hard on crime in the midterms — and mostly fell flat. But it did gangbusters in New York, where a tabloid drumbeat of chaos resonated with voters out in the city’s suburbs, helping the GOP claim one open New York House seat and wrest three more from Democratic control. Crime also propelled stunning gains in New York City by the Republican candidate for governor, Lee Zeldin, who campaigned extensively on the issue and came within striking distance of Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul. It failed to animate voters in places like Pennsylvania and California, but crime proved a winning strategy in New York — where the city media market’s massive reach means Gotham’s crime is the state’s crime.

How Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan beat back Republican gains in New York, by POLITICO’s Joseph Spector: Rep. Pat Ryan had to win election to the House twice in less than three months, so his campaign message became increasingly succinct: “rights and relief.” The slogan worked, allowing the Hudson Valley Democrat to do something his neighboring House colleagues in New York could not — beat back Republicans' message on crime and the economy to win on Election Day. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, lost to his south, as did all four Democratic candidates on Long Island. And to his north, Republican Marc Molinaro — who Ryan defeated in an August special election — rebounded and won an open seat across upstate New York.

“Outgoing Rep. Mondaire Jones: Cuomo, NY Democratic leaders, cost the state key congressional seats,” by WNYC’s Olivia Ebertz: “Outgoing Rep. Mondaire Jones on Sunday blamed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and leading Democrats in Albany for Republicans flipping four Congressional seats during Tuesday’s midterm elections. Jones, during an appearance on CNN, said the state’s redistricting process, as managed by state party leaders, propelled New York and the country into a ‘nightmare scenario.’ ‘New York [is] a deeply blue state where we could have gotten it right in the way that so many other blue states did,’ Jones said.”

“Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez describes fears of violence,” by The New York Times’ Chris Cameron: “Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she has feared for her life since becoming an elected official. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive Democrat from New York, said in an interview with CNN’s Chris Wallace, part of which aired on Saturday, that she has felt endangered ‘since the moment that I won my primary election in 2018, and it became especially intensified when I was first brought into Congress.’”

“House GOP leader Elise Stefanik backs Trump 2024 bid as others urge delay,” by New York Post’s Carl Campanile: "House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik on Friday endorsed Donald Trump for a 2024 White House run — becoming the first member of the GOP leadership to publicly take sides in a simmering feud on whether the party should ditch the polarizing ex-president. 'I am proud to endorse Donald J. Trump for President in 2024. I fully support him running again,' Stefanik, of New York, said in a statement to The Post. “Under his presidency, America was strong at home and abroad, our economy was red hot, our border was secure, our neighborhoods were safe, our law enforcement was respected, and our enemies feared us.”

— New York City Comptroller Brad Lander fired two workers with no explanation.

— The city has scrapped plans for a Coney Island ferry stop.

— A new state office in the Bronx will allow Puerto Ricans living in New York to more easily access important records.

— The Department of Transportation began local outreach on its plan to increase pedestrian access at Grand Army Plaza, but denied it would become completely car-free.

— A woman was arrested for allowing her 10-year-old son to get a tattoo.

— Former Police Commissioner Dermot Shea’s son got a promotion to detective after only 18 months on the job.

— Schenectady’s school districtgot a “wake-up call” after only 4 percent of Black students passed the state math test.

— Buffalo News’ Editorial Board: “Massive Dalfin penalty should serve as a warning to negligent landlords”

— A new Museum of Broadway is set to open this week.

— Neighbors are complaining about loud parties at Tavern on the Green.

— A MorningsideHeights nursing home was cited for cooling tower violations seven times before a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak where five people died.

— The suspect in a rape on the Hudson River greenway eluded police after previous attacks.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Peter Lattman ... Rachel Noerdlinger … Bill Ferris, AARP New York’s lead state lobbyist (h/t Erik Kriss) … Olivia Lapeyrolerie … Mike Katz ... Jonathan I. Landman ... Steven H. Cymbrowitz ... Vanessa Bayer ... Lana Volftsun Fern … Joshua Friedlander … (was Sunday): CNN’s Eric Bradner … WSJ’s Ming Li … Jonathan Topaz … Harry Hurt III … Julia Thompson … (was Saturday): Ian Bremmer of the Eurasia Group … Lauren Peikoff of MSNBC Marguerite Sullivan of Latham & Watkins ... Olivia Lange … Linda B. Rosenthal 

MAKING MOVES — Rep.-elect Dan Goldman has hired several new staffers: Haley Scott, who will take a leave of absence from BerlinRosen, as chief of staff; John Blasco, chief of staff to Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, as district director; Tevin Williams, an aide to state Sen. Brad Hoylman, as director of community and external affairs; and Simone Kanter, who worked for Goldman’s campaign, as press secretary.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Murong Yang, managing director of Future Capital, and Corey Hamabata, managing director of Rockpool Capital and TREC Hospitality Investment, recently welcomed Huck Che Hamabata. Pic ... Another pic

“Powerless Tenants and Landlord Raised Alarms About E-Bikes That Sparked Midtown Blaze,” by The City’s Greg B. Smith: “Long before a disastrous fire caused by exploding e-bike batteries erupted inside a Midtown East luxury apartment building at 429 E. 52nd St. in Manhattan last week, the alarm bells were ringing loudly regarding Apartment 20F. For months, tenants had warned the building’s management about e-bikes parked in the hallway outside the unit where the fire started. In fact, the management company had been in court since 2021 trying to evict that apartment’s occupants. One of the lawsuit’s allegations was quite specific: some occupants of some apartments — including 20F — were ‘riding and/or parking motorcycles in public areas of the building, including the building’s courtyards, stairways, hallways and elevators.’”