Gov. Kathy Hochul‘s (D-NY) decision to halt a congestion pricing plan to fund public transportation could hurt her when she’s up for reelection in 2026.
Although the plan that would have raised millions for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority was unpopular with voters, the governor’s allies who had backed the plan didn’t know Hochul had gotten cold feet about implementing it. And those powerful allies could turn into dangerous foes as they are reportedly weighing running against her or throwing their support behind another challenger.
“As soon as something goes wrong with the MTA, everyone is blaming Kathy Hochul,” Jasmine Gripper, a co-director of the left-leaning New York Working Families Party, told Politico.
New York Building Congress President Carlo Scissura, a strong backer within the coalition for the initiative, said he learned about Hochul’s reversal through reading about it online. Scissura said he expected the money raised from the congestion pricing would help fund construction projects, thus creating “thousands of jobs.”
“She owes all of us answers,” Scissura said. “The people who have supported her from day one should never be blindsided and deserve up-front clarity.”
Hochul said her decision to halt congestion pricing was due to the high inflation costs New Yorkers face.
“At a time when inflation is still cutting into New Yorkers’ hard-earned wages, the concern is that many would do exactly that,” she said in a video message announcing the decision, “or that one more added cost would make residents rethink living or working here altogether, hurting our recovery even more.”
Polls in April revealed Hochul hitting the lowest approval rating of her tenure, at 49%, with only 40% of voters viewing her in a positive light. The poll also found that 64% of New Yorkers were against the $15 surcharge to enter the borough of Manhattan below 60th Street.
Now, with Hochul’s reversal, many state Democrats aren’t as worried about their Republican challenger’s attacks fueled by the congestion pricing. However, it’s unlikely Hochul’s reversal will win over new supporters and will cause her to lose people and organizations in favor of the congestion pricing.
With Hochul up for reelection in two years, Democratic challengers being floated include Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and even disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“People see weakness, and when they see weakness, they attack,” Gripper said. “She’s vulnerable to a credible challenge, and it could come from either direction.”
While many voters may be cheering for the failed congestion fee, those in support of the plan will be first to point to any failings faced by MTA.
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With congestion pricing no longer on the table, MTA faces a $1 billion shortfall meant to help keep up and finance the transit system. Hochul said she is “committed to continuing these projects with alternative funding.”
However, a business tax increase that was meant to raise funds was rejected by state legislators.
