Hochul draws fire from Jewish advocates, unions over ‘underwhelming’ running mate pick

Gov. Kathy Hochul is already facing blowback — including from the Jewish community and some unions — over her newly announced running mate, with other critics calling the pick “underwhelming” and warning it could “backfire.”

Political insiders questioned Hochul’s selection of former City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, with some noting the Queens Democrat “made a lot of enemies” during her tenure — including for not advocating for Israel and for shoving through progressive legislation that angered cops and jail guards.

“If the goal was to pick someone as underwhelming as possible, then picking Adrienne Adams was genius,” a Democratic consultant snarked.

“She made a lot of enemies [as speaker],” another Dem operative said of Adams, noting she also “couldn’t get it together” in the Democratic mayoral primary, which was won by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

“You are supposed to do no harm with these picks – [Hochul] picked the only person who can inspire a negative reaction,” the source said.

The Democrat Hochul, who is facing a left-wing primary challenge from her current, estranged Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, announced Adams has her running mate on Wednesday. Two other office holders had turned down advances for them to run alongside Hochul, The Post previously reported.

While the governor labeled Adams a “fighter” ready to take on President Trump’s administration, political observers were less impressed.

“I’m not sure what it brings other than the historic nature of having two women on the top of the ticket,” said Democratic operative Bill Cunningham.

“But when Adrienne Adams ran for mayor, she finished in 4th place [in the mayoral Democratic primary]. She’s not exactly a powerhouse vote getter.”

A Democratic lawmaker and a party official, both of whom are Jewish, told The Post they were not going to support Hochul in light of her pick.

A lawmaker, who did not want to be named, explained Thursday some Jewish leaders felt the speaker wasn’t vocal enough in her support of Israel in the immediate of aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack and tried to push through a resolution on a cease-fire in Gaza.

“I think overall people felt like she allowed the lefties to run free,” the lawmaker said in reference to progressive council members.  

Michael Nussbaum, a Queens member of the Jewish Community Relations Council, said he and other Jewish activists were disappointed Adams did not accept an invitation to travel to Israel while she was speaker.

“But she’s acceptable to me,” he said. “I like her very much. She’ll be a good lieutenant governor.”

As speaker, Adams also backed a series of controversial measures that were opposed by both police and correction unions.

Detectives Endowment Association president Scott Munro said Thursday he’ll wait to see if Adams shows she’s pro-police or instead appeals “to the far left like she did in the council.”

“We will only endorse someone who is pro-police,” said Munro, who created an alliance with other unions in the state to make up 500,000 voters. “You’re going to the the LG, you have to be pro-police.”

A source said Hochul had appeared interested in bringing in Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez as LG, but Adams ultimately got the edge in hopes she’ll bring in much-needed votes in Queens — angering top Dems in Brooklyn.

“I think it’s going to backfire,” the source said of Hochul’s selection.

Hochul and Adams appeared together at a press conference in Syracuse ahead of the Democratic Party’s nominating conference Friday.

“No one can question what Adrienne Adams brings to this fight in this moment in history right now,” Hochul said.

The decision to go with Adams, who is not related to former Mayor Eric Adams, came in the backdrop of Hochul striking out twice with the two pols she tapped as lieutenant governor since taking office in 2021.

Benjamin Brian, a former Brooklyn state senator, lasted less than a year as Hochul’s right hand before stepping down in 2022 when he was indicted on corruption-related charges, which were later dropped.

Hochul’s current lieutenant, former congressman Antonio Delgado, is now running against her after the pair had a falling out about three years into his appointment.

The consultant who called Adams “underwhelming” quipped, “There is safety in picking someone who won’t turn out to be another Antonio Delgado.”

Delgado’s running mate is socialist and failed Buffalo mayoral candidate India Walton. GOP candidate, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, has not announced a No.2 pick yet.

Hochul and Adams make up the first all-female ticket to run for the two top state slots under a major party.

Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein (D-Brooklyn), who represents heavily Jewish neighborhoods, said he’ll back them both.

“What’s the alternative, India Walton? Thanks but no thanks,” he said.

“I would take Kathy Hochul and Adrienne Adams over Antonio Delgado and India Walton any day.”