Cuomo cruises to New York gubernatorial win

November 5, 2014 By David Klepper Associated Press

Andrew Cuomo speaks at a Monday rally. AP photo

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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo won a second term on Tuesday by easily dispatching a challenge from Republican Rob Astorino, becoming the first Democratic governor since his father, Mario Cuomo, to win re-election in the nation’s third-largest state.

Cuomo is believed to harbor national ambitions and has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate, though he has said he intends to serve a full four-year term.

Cuomo consistently led the lesser-known Astorino in the polls and enjoyed a nearly 10-to-1 ratio fundraising advantage over the Westchester County executive in the campaign’s final weeks. The only question in many political observers’ minds was how big Cuomo’s margin of victory would be.

Astorino criticized Cuomo as an Albany insider who hadn’t done enough for the economy, while Cuomo campaigned on his record over the past four years, including tax cuts, tighter gun control, legalization of gay marriage, reductions in government gridlock and a renewed focus on the upstate economy.

The 56-year-old Cuomo will begin his second term with a long list of challenges, including the implementation of a new medical marijuana law, a decision on whether to allow fracking for natural gas and the selection of up to four new casino operators upstate.

Liberals are expected to press Cuomo to make good on promises to push for a higher minimum wage, abortion rights protections and broad public campaign financing.

Cuomo’s running mate, former U.S. Rep. Kathy Hochul, of Buffalo, was elected lieutenant governor over Chemung County Sheriff Chris Moss and will replace Lt. Gov. Bob Duffy, who is retiring.