Brooklyn City Council member Carlos Menchaca gave incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo's re-election chances a small but shocking hurdle to clear when he announced his endorsement of actor Cynthia Nixon earlier today.
Councilmen Menchaca broke from other Hispanic leaders when he said, "I proudly endorse Cynthia Nixon to be our next governor of New York. Cynthia stands with immigrants, people of color and the working class across our state and will fight for respect and dignity for all of us."
Nixon, who trails in recent polling of Hispanic voters, has vowed to help undocumented immigrants' obtain driver's licenses, a touchy issue in New York State for years.
The Cuomo administration is believed to have the Hispanic vote wrapped up as Governor Cuomo has the backing of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Assemblyman Marcos Crespo and Representative Nydia Velazquez. Velazquez who was quoted in an article published in the New York Post said "She was 100 percent in support" of Governor Cuomo's re-election.
Governor Cuomo and several New York Hispanic leaders have made three trips to Puerto Rico to oversee the relief efforts from Hurricane Maria. The devastation from Maria has left much of the island nation without power and other sanitary necessities.
Nixon, after getting the endorsement of Menchaca told voters, "New York needs to lead the way to protect immigrants. We're lagging behind. Isn't it time we change that?"
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