By Mike Lee

Governor: Kathy Hochul

Kathy Hochul understands the importance of New York City and its residents. On Feb. 16, the Governor announced the State will provide $1.5 billion in financial aid to New York City through 2027 to reduce the City’s budget deficit. Her leadership and collaboration with Mayor Zohran Mamdani are essential to realizing a more affordable city for working class New Yorkers.

“As Governor, Kathy Hochul has proven to be a fierce fighter for New York’s working families,” said Henry Garrido, DC 37 Executive Director. “At a time when workers’ rights are being ripped apart at the federal level, it is increasingly important that we elect leaders who will prioritize the needs of our members and all New Yorkers. From fighting for increased access to child care to building more affordable housing, Governor Hochul has been there for working families.”

Hochul’s public policy initiatives, which include committing an additional $100 million to the Child Care Capital Program, expanding affordable housing, increasing the minimum wage and tying it to inflation, will directly serve the New Yorkers who need it most.

Attorney General: Letitia James

Letitia James is a fearless and effective advocate for working people who is not afraid to confront the rich and powerful.

Throughout her political career as a New York City Council Member, Public Advocate, and New York’s chief attorney since 2018, James has worked tirelessly on key workplace and social issues important to DC 37 members, foremost among them her efforts to achieve pay equity for public workers.

As “the people’s lawyer,” James has fought against major corporations and financial institutions and held them accountable for violating laws in their attempts to circumvent the system. She secured more than $2.5 billion for the state from drug manufacturers and distributors for their roles in the opioid epidemic.

James has a proven record of fighting unfair labor practices. She recently clawed back $328 million from Uber and Lyft for cheating drivers out of their pay. She has litigated workplace sexual harassment and workers’ comp violations and has spoken out on behalf of day care workers and other unionized employees.

State Comptroller: Tom DiNapoli

Tom DiNapoli’s track record as State Comptroller has proven his commitment to rooting out corruption and protecting New Yorkers from fraud.

DiNapoli is also responsible for safeguarding the retirement of public employees in the State pension system, where he has prioritized ethical investments and called out unionbusting while working toward the highest rate of return for workers. He has used shareholder influence to press companies to address climate change and tackle the lack of diversity on corporate boards.

During COVID-19, DiNapoli monitored the impact of the pandemic on jobs and relief efforts for New Yorkers impacted by the crisis, which helped pinpoint the areas state and local governments needed to address.

DiNapoli has also sounded the alarm on affordability in New York City, issuing reports on the impact of housing costs, wage inequities, and cost-of-living on impacted age groups, from young adults to seniors.

This article originally appeared in the January-March 2026 issue of PEPTalk Magazine.