Ex-Cuomo staffer gains momentum

KERHONKSON, N.Y. _ Until this week, Gareth Rhodes, a former communications director for Gov. Andrew Cuomo and a NY-19 congressional candidate, was chugging along under the radar in his bid for the Democratic nomination.

He was widely described as second-tier to corporate executive Brian Flynn, tech entrepreneur Pat Ryan and attorney Antonio Delgado, whose significant fundraising has led some observers to perceive those three candidates as front-runners in Tuesday's crowded Democratic primary.

Yet Rhodes, who has benefitted from name recognition, remains firmly in the hunt with agricultural economist Erin Collier, former U.S. diplomat Jeff Beals and attorney Dave Clegg.

Rhodes has raised a respectable amount, pulling in almost $800,000, according to his most recent filings. But it appears that Rhodes' unique campaign, designed to appeal to the average voter _ including independents and Republicans in small towns across the district _ has generated significant momentum in the final stretch before primary day.

Fresh off his Winnebago "Rhodes trip" to the 163 towns in New York's 19th Congressional District, the former well driller and volunteer firefighter from rural Ulster County scooped up an endorsement from The New York Times that declared him the best of the seven Democratic candidates seeking to challenge Republican Rep. John Faso this fall.

Rhodes's candidacy has also drawn the backing of a number of labor unions, including most recently, the New York State Nurses Association and the Hotel Trades Council. Along the road, he has picked up endorsements from a number of local county legislators and officials, like Broome County Executive Jason Garnar and Kingston Alderman Bill Carey.

"You just have to talk to Gareth to know how genuine he is. He connects to people naturally and meaningfully in a way our current representative does not," Carey said.

Rhodes is also widely seen as Cuomo's pick for the race. A number of high-ranking state officials and powerful Cuomo allies have contributed to Rhodes' campaign and voiced support for his candidacy. Cuomo has not formally endorsed a candidate in the race, but gave Rhodes a shout-out at a recent rally in Kingston.

When asked about Cuomo's record and his time in the governor's administration, his response is always the same, that he is very "proud of his government experience," touting the administration's accomplishments on LGBTQ rights and gun control, and noting that other Democrats in the race cannot say the same.

There was an awkward moment during a recent WAMC candidate forum in Albany, where Rhodes and the other candidates were asked if they would support Cuomo or his left-flank challenger Cynthia Nixon in this year's gubernatorial primary. His tentative endorsement of Cuomo was scrutinized by some.

"I support the current governor, so far, in the primary. But I haven't had a chance to meet Cynthia Nixon yet," he said.

Some hefty campaign contributions from individuals with significant interest before the state, such as Cuomo's upstate economic development czar Howard Zemsky and his wife Leslie, who runs the family's Buffalo real estate business, Larkin Development Group, have raised eyebrows.

A spokesperson for the campaign said the contributions are from individuals who were in Rhodes' orbit during his time in state government, and signal their strong belief in him as an individual and a candidate for Congress.

At 29, Rhodes is notably the youngest candidate in the race, and supporters often reference his youthful energy and sincerity, which they believe can mobilize younger voters in the district and bring a fresh perspective to Congress.

Jerry Goldfeder, a veteran election attorney from New York City with ties to Cuomo, said he was so impressed by the up-and-comer that he wound up working for the Rhodes campaign.

"I like to encourage young people to run for office, and number two, I was very impressed with him. He's visited every town in the entire congressional district, which underscores the importance of his roots in the district," Goldfeder said. "I think he's doing really, really well."

On the last leg of the trip, Rhodes visited the smallest town _ Hardenburgh (pop. 238, with 40 registered Democrats, 6 of whom voted in the last primary) and the largest city in NY-19, Kingston, where he was born.

His trek across the district places him in contrast to Faso, who has been criticized for making few appearances in the district, he said.

"I meet many voters who voted for Donald Trump but are eager to vote against John Faso," Rhodes said. "He hasn't showed up at meetings; he voted against health care. ... They have no desire to see Faso come back for a second term. While I am deeply troubled by the direction he is taking this country, my voice is focused on Faso _ his failure to serve this community and listen to this community."

Historically, outsiders who move to the swing district to run for the congressional seat have been effectively maligned in the general election as "carpetbaggers." Rhodes left Harvard Law School and settled in Kerhonkson last year to run for the seat, but with deep, working-class family roots in the area, there seems little that Republicans can pin on him.

In a press-release email, the National Republican Congressional Committee dubbed him a "Winnebago pollution enthusiast," but Rhodes notes he has spent $4,000 to purchase carbon offsets through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and significantly offset his carbon footprint on the campaign trail.

Meanwhile, Rhodes' former colleagues from Cuomo's office continue to cheer him on from the sidelines, with secretary to the governor Melissa DeRosa proudly sharing the Times' endorsement on Twitter this week.

"I'd like to claim credit for (at)garethtrhodes, but he has done this 1000% on his own _ the Times chose right on this one," DeRosa wrote.