Cynthia Nixon in 2018 NY Governor's race
On Principles & Values:
Corrupt, corporate Dems can't fight corrupt, corporate GOP
When Gov. Andrew Cuomo debated progressive challenger Cynthia Nixon, the prevailing vibe was tense. Nixon called the governor a "corrupt, corporate Democrat" ill-equipped to battle the "corrupt, corporate Republican in the White House," as Cuomo has
promised to do. Later, he accused the actress of living "in the world of fiction," while he lives "in the world of fact."The Cuomo campaign's focus on Nixon's "angry" tone, rather than on her policy proposals and criticisms of the governor's record,
will induce a case of d‚j… vu in anyone paying attention to the coverage of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential race.
Calling Nixon's temperament into question emits a similarly sexist dog whistle. The tactic echoes Cuomo ally Christine
Quinn's decision to call Nixon an "unqualified lesbian," rather than an unqualified person or candidate. The remarks may not be blatantly sexist or homophobic, but they're intended to shake loose sexist and homophobic stereotypes in voters' minds.
Source: Slate Magazine on 2018 New York governor race
Aug 30, 2018
On Government Reform:
The 'Cynthia Effect': Cuomo now for restoring voting rights
Nixon gave her rebuttal to the annual Legislative Correspondents Association dinner [where Cuomo presented himself as a progressive]. Nixon dinged Cuomo for appearing to change his stances on climate change, restoring voting rights,
banning plastic bags and more since she announced her candidacy."It's called the 'Cynthia Effect'... Before this campaign is over, he'll be getting arrested, protesting his own administration," she quipped.
Source: Huffington Post on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
May 9, 2018
On Principles & Values:
Vote for the homo, not for the Cuomo
Nixon gave her rebuttal to the annual Legislative Correspondents Association dinner in a speech replete with snarky comments and witticisms about Cuomo."Cuomo thinks that I should stick to acting, but after seeing Cuomo try to play the part of a
progressive, I think he should stick to politics," said Nixon. "His performance has not been very convincing. You might say he's an unqualified thespian." Her comment was a nod to former NYC Council speaker Christine Quinn's dismissal of
Nixon as an "unqualified lesbian." Quinn later apologized, but the phrase lives on.
But none of Nixon's remarks got as much applause as her "Vote for the homo, not for the Cuomo" line, which has historical precedent. During the 1977 New York
City mayoral campaign, when Ed Koch ran against Cuomo's father, Mario Cuomo, flyers appeared that read, "Vote for Cuomo, Not the Homo."
Nixon ended her remarks by suggesting that the younger Cuomo come out of the closet ... as a Republican.
Source: Huffington Post on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
May 9, 2018
On Drugs:
Arresting people for cannabis is racist war on drugs
Nixon made marijuana a central part of her campaign when she announced adult-use legalization as her first policy plank."Arresting people-particularly people of color-for cannabis is the crown jewel in the racist war on drugs and we must pluck it
down," she said. "We must expunge people's records; we must get people out of prison."
Nixon explained that she has made cannabis a central part of her campaign because it touches on so many other issues. "It's a racial justice issue because we're
incarcerating people of color in such staggering numbers," she said.
People of color made up 86% of all marijuana arrests in 2017, despite that white people are just as likely to use marijuana.
"Now that cannabis is exploding as an industry, we have
to make sure that those communities that have been harmed and devastated by marijuana arrests get the first shot at this industry," she said. "We [must] prioritize them in terms of licenses. It's a form of reparations."
Source: Forbes Magazine on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
May 7, 2018
On Drugs:
Racial equity in cannabis industry as form of reparations
Nixon said, "we have to make sure that those communities that have been harmed and devastated by marijuana arrests get the first shot at this industry. We [must] prioritize them in terms of licenses. It's a form of reparations."Racial equity in the
cannabis industry has been a problem in states that have legalized the drug. Colorado banned those with marijuana felonies from working in the newly legal industry. That model of legalization is starting to shift. Oakland, California made history
when it launched an equity program aimed at remedying drug-war injustices. Instead of banning people with drug convictions from the industry, the city created a program that gave those with pot convictions first dibs on a marijuana business license.
"The use of marijuana has been effectively legal for white people for a really long time," said Nixon. "It's time that we legalize it for everybody else."
Source: Forbes Magazine on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
May 7, 2018
On Immigration:
Fight for statewide immigrant sanctuary protection
Cynthia Nixon said she wants to make New York a "real sanctuary state" for undocumented immigrants. The actress, who is challenging Gov. Cuomo for the Democratic nomination, said so-called sanctuary state legislation was among the measures that needs
to be adopted for New York to become the "progressive bastion" she envisions. While New York City and several other cities have adopted such policies to protect immigrants, Nixon blamed Cuomo for thwarting legislation to do it on a statewide level.
Source: New York Daily News on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
Apr 5, 2018
On Jobs:
Access to good jobs for all those in need of them
Nixon met community members at Southwest Community Center for a far-ranging conversation. She said that's why as governor she would make Syracuse "ground zero" for fighting poverty. How? Through supporting good jobs, she said. Noting her conversations
with local community members, Nixon emphasized that she would support human services jobs, unions and farm workers. She said she felt it was important to protect immigrants, women and people of color by ensuring they have access to jobs.
Source: Syracuse Post-Standard on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
Apr 5, 2018
On Drugs:
Legalize marijuana and capture the revenue
Cynthia Nixon is "absolutely for" legalizing marijuana in New York, she said in a new interview airing Wednesday. When it comes to the Big Apple, Nixon said the gun laws could be tougher and that she supports making pot legal. "There's
such an appetite for real progressive change in New York state," she said during the 13-minute chat. "I'm absolutely for the legalization of marijuana. Let's capture some of that revenue."
Source: New York Post on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
Apr 4, 2018
On Environment:
Outraged over slow response to village's contaminated water
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon says New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his administration "ignored" an upstate village's problems with its contaminated water supply. The village's municipal water supply and private wells
were contaminated by a toxic chemical known as PFOA. The contamination was uncovered in 2014, but a cleanup effort by the state wasn't started until early 2016. Nixon called the delay "egregious" and "shocking."
Source: U.S. News & World Report on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
Apr 4, 2018
On Gun Control:
If you want more done on gun control, get involved
"If we don't like the direction our government is going in, we have to step up and get involved like never before,"
Nixon said. "That's what I'm doing." Nixon discussed gun control too, saying there's more the state of New York could be doing.
Source: M. Dobuski on WCSJ News on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
Apr 4, 2018
On Budget & Economy:
A budget bullies people when it shortchanges opportunities
The Sex and the City star announced her candidacy a week ago and has repeatedly hit Cuomo's record over his eight years in office. "But worst of all, his budgets bully our children and our families by shortchanging them, by boxing them in, by
denying them the opportunities they are owed." She knocked Albany for being run by men: specifically the legislative leaders and Cuomo who are meeting daily behind closed doors to hash out a budget agreement--including new laws on sexual harassment.
Source: Rochester Democrat & Chronicle: 2018 New York governor race
Mar 27, 2018
On Education:
Fight against the Old Boys Club for quality education
I've been going to Albany for a long time. I've gone there mad as hell about Republicans. And I've gone there mad as hell about corporate Democrats. Today I've come back to Albany to fight for New York's children and public school families with
Alliance for Quality Education New York. The old boys club in Albany might have a lot of money, but in the end, we must remember they only have as much power as We, the People, let them. It's time for a change. If you agree, donate to our campaign today.
Source: Facebook posting on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
Mar 26, 2018
On Tax Reform:
Limit tax breaks to the film industry; they don't need it
Cynthia Nixon wants to limit the film industry tax breaks that benefited both Sex and the City movies. The 2 films received a total of $13.6M in tax credits and subsidies for filming in the state. But last week Nixon said those credits are
unnecessary taxpayer-funded giveaway to an already rich industry. 'Cynthia is opposed to enormous tax giveaways to large corporations with no strings attached,' her campaign spokeswoman said on Sunday.
Source: Daily Mail (UK) on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
Mar 26, 2018
On Government Reform:
Main focus of campaign is exposing ongoing corruption
Cynthia Nixon, the "Sex and the City" actress and activist, is challenging incumbent New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, shaking up an otherwise sleepy Democratic primary race.
Nixon's candidacy so far has targeted Cuomo's weak spots both locally and statewide, from the city's subway crisis to the corruption scandals that have continued to plague Albany, the state's capital.
Source: Jen Kirby in Vox.com on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
Mar 22, 2018
On Civil Rights:
History of pro-gay rights with established credibility
"My being a lesbian or her being a lesbian I think has nothing to do with why we're running for office," Nixon told the scrum on her way out of an appearance. The 51-year-old has never held public office, but as an activist she has lobbied
extensively for better education funding and advocated for gay rights. One gay-rights activist said Nixon had established her credibility as a thoughtful activist, but predicted that Cuomo would win "the lion's share" of the LGBT vote.
Source: Chicago Tribune on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
Mar 21, 2018
On Corporations:
Fight against tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy
Newly announced New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon criticized Gov. Andrew Cuomo, her Democratic primary opponent, for favoring corporations and the rich over average New Yorkers.
Nixon went on to criticize inequality in the state, which she blamed on policy choices like tax cuts for corporations and wealthier New Yorkers, and called out corruption in state government.
Source: New York Daily News on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
Mar 21, 2018
On Technology:
Infrastructure decimated by tax breaks given to corporations
"Andrew Cuomo has given massive tax breaks to corporations and the super rich while starving the state and its cities of the most basic services and decimating our infrastructure,"
Nixon wrote on her campaign site. "His inhumane budgets have been passed on the backs of our children, our working and middle class, and our elderly."
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2018 New York governor race
Mar 20, 2018
On Crime:
Transform our criminal justice system
A couple of weeks later, Nixon sounded even more like a candidate for governor at an LGBTQ event in Manhattan: "We could invest
in renewable energy, we could transform our criminal justice system, we could fix our broken subways," she said at the podium.
Source: Zack Fink in NY1.com on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
Mar 6, 2018
On Abortion:
Abortion is a fundamental right for all women
Women must have the right to determine whether and when to have children. That is what reproductive rights are all about. Abortion is a deeply personal and sometimes complex decision for a woman, and no one can make that decision for her.
Decisions about whether to choose adoption, end a pregnancy or raise a child must be left to the woman and her family to determine based on their faith with the counsel of their medical provider. The fundamental right to abortion must be here to stay.
Source: Time Magazine on 2018 New York gubernatorial race
Jan 22, 2016
Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021