Hochul leaves door open for a Biden withdrawal, even as she reiterates her support

NEW YORK — Gov. Kathy Hochul, one of President Joe Biden’s most vocal defenders, said Thursday the Democratic Party would “figure anything out” if he drops his reelection bid, acknowledging party leaders’ intensifying pressure campaign .

“Obviously, if there’s a change, there’s a change. We’re adaptable,” she said. “But Joe Biden’s our nominee, he’s our candidate. … As long as Joe Biden’s in it to win it, I’m there with him.”

The governor was responding to a question posed at a Capitol Confidential event.

“If he changes his mind — which I don’t have any insight into inside the race to know that that’s going to happen, I truly do not — then I’m lockstep with our nominee,” she said.

Hochul added that when Biden convened governors at the White House two weeks ago, he told them he was the nominee and in it to win it.

“I looked him in the eyes and I believe he was sincere,” she said.

But a lot has changed since then as the Democratic Party continues to grapple with the fallout from Biden’s disastrous June 27 debate performance against Donald Trump. Intensifying doubts that Biden can win reelection in November have been coupled with increasingly public concerns that he is an anchor on Democrats running for Senate and House.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer , House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi have been among the top-ranking Democrats who have voiced those worries directly to the president, POLITICO and others have reported.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has also been bombarded with questions about Biden’s future.

“I’m ridin’ with Biden. I’ve made that clear over and over again,” Adams told 1010 WINS on Thursday, adding that he has spoken with Jeffries.

Like Hochul, he sought to project optimism about the party uniting with a plan.

“Clearly, I believe that he can continue to move this country in the right direction,” Adams said. “And I know how important it is for Senator Schumer as the leader of the Senate … to continue to retain the Senate. I had a brief conversation with Congressman Jeffries. He’s focused on those seats that he needs to take over Congress.”

Emily Ngo contributed to this report.