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Cuomo could get a primary challenger

Karen Dewitt
/
WRVO
Zephyr Teachout and Timothy Wu announce their intent run a primary race against incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo might have a primary challenger. Zephyr Teachout, a Fordham University law professor and activist, announced she’s collecting signatures to be on the September Democratic primary ballot.

Teachout was first promoted by the left-leaning Working Families Party as an alternative candidate to Cuomo, but in the end the minor party dropped her in favor of the governor. Teachout says she volunteered for Cuomo’s 2010 campaign for governor, but has grown disenchanted, and believes that he’s become too concerned with raising money for his political campaign.

“His record suggests that he serves the interests of his donors and his own ambition,” Teachout said.

Teachout needs to come up with 15,000 signatures to petition to get on the ballot, but she says she’s not daunted by the task or about raising enough money.

Her running mate, Timothy Wu, is also an attorney who has advocated against big media consolidation.

Karen DeWitt is Capitol Bureau Chief for New York State Public Radio, a network of 10 public radio stations in New York State. She has covered state government and politics for the network since 1990.