New York gubernatorial election, 2018 (A New American Century)

The 2018 New York gubernatorial election occurred on November 6, 2018. Incumbent Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo ran for re-election to a third term, but he was defeated by Republican Marc Molinaro in the general election.

Cuomo defeated actress and activist Cynthia Nixon in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Cuomo's running mate, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, outpolled New York City Councillor Jumaane Williams in the Democratic primary. Democratic candidates Cuomo and Hochul also ran on the ballot lines of the Independence Party and the Women's Equality Party; after Nixon and Williams withdrew from the race in October, Cuomo and Hochul received the nomination of the Working Families Party as well.

Dutchess County Executive and former New York State Assemblymember Marc Molinaro was the Republican, Conservative, and Reform Party candidate. Molinaro's running mate was former Rye City Councilmember Julie Killian. Third-party gubernatorial candidates appearing on the general election ballot included Howie Hawkins, repeat candidate for the Green Party; former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, running on the newly-created Serve America Movementline; and Larry Sharpe of the Libertarian Party, who was the runner-up in the 2016 Libertarian primary contest for Vice President of the United States.

Following her defeat in the Democratic primary, Cynthia Nixon launched a third party bid on the Working Families Party ticket. She was endorsed by several of the state's and nation's more progressive leaders, including Democratic New York Attorney General nominee Letitia James, Democratic congressional candidates Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib, as well as progressive groups such as Justice Democrats and Our Revolution. Nixon's insurgent campaign drew enough votes away from Cuomo to cost him a third term, despite neither candidate achieving a majority of the vote.

Democratic primary
On November 15, 2016, incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his intention to seek a third term in office. On May 23, 2018, incumbent governor Andrew Cuomo secured the nomination of the Democratic Party at the state convention after winning support from more than 95% of the state delegates. No other candidates qualified for the primary ballot at the convention, as they all failed to meet the required 25% delegate threshold. Actress and activist Cynthia Nixon sought to petition her way onto the Democratic primary ballot. By July 12, Nixon had obtained 65,000 petition signatures, which is more than four times the 15,000 required to force a primary election.

Nominee

 * Andrew Cuomo, incumbent governor of New York

Lost nomination

 * Cynthia Nixon, actress and activist

Withdrew

 * Randy Credico, perennial candidate (endorsed Nixon)
 * Terry Gipson, former state senator (endorsed Nixon)

Declined

 * Preet Bharara, former U.S Attorney for the Southern District of New York
 * Byron Brown, Mayor of Buffalo and chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee
 * Hillary Clinton, 67th United States Secretary of State; former U.S. Senator from New York; former First Lady of the United States; 2008 Democratic presidential candidate; Democratic nominee for President in 2016 (endorsed Cuomo)
 * Thomas DiNapoli, Comptroller of New York (running for reelection)
 * Kirsten Gillibrand, current U.S. Senator from New York (running for reelection; endorsed Cuomo)
 * Stephanie Miner, former mayor of Syracuse (declined to seek Democratic Party nomination, running as an independent on the Serve America Movement ticket)
 * Eric Schneiderman, Attorney General of New York (resigned from public office May 7, 2018 following accusations of domestic violence)
 * Zephyr Teachout, law professor at Fordham University, candidate for governor in 2014 and nominee for NY-19 in 2016 (endorsed Nixon; running for attorney general)
 * Jumaane Williams, member of the New York City Council (endorsed Nixon; running for lieutenant governor)

Republican primary
On May 23, 2018, the party unanimously nominated Marc Molinaro as its candidate for Governor of New York at its state convention. No challengers attempted to petition onto the primary ballot, so no Republican primary took place. Deputy Senate Majority Leader John A. DeFrancisco ran for the Republican nomination, but withdrew his candidacy on April 25, 2018, after party leaders--who had initially given him their support--threw their support to Molinaro instead.

Nominee

 * Marc Molinaro, Dutchess County Executive and former member of the New York State Assembly
 * Running mate: Julie Killian, former Rye City Councilwoman and state senate nominee

Withdrew

 * John A. DeFrancisco, Deputy Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
 * Joel Giambra, former Erie County Executive (withdrew from the Republican primary March 1, 2018)
 * Joe Holland, former commissioner of the New York Department of Housing and Community Renewal (running for Attorney General)
 * Brian Kolb, Minority Leader of the New York State Assembly

Declined

 * Rob Astorino, former Westchester County Executive and Republican nominee for governor in 2014
 * John P. Cahill, former commissioner of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation; former chief of staff to Governor George Pataki; Republican nominee for attorney general in 2014
 * John J. Flanagan, Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
 * Chris Gibson, former U.S. Representative
 * Carl Paladino, former member of the Buffalo Public Schools Board of Education and nominee for governor in 2010
 * Donald Trump Jr., businessman and son of real estate magnate Donald Trump
 * Harry Wilson, businessman and nominee for State Comptroller in 2010