Leaving nothing to chance, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has raised another $5 million for his campaign chest over the past six months, increasing it to $16 million.
Cuomo, a two-term Democrat who doesn’t face re-election until 2018, also reports spending $1.7 million in campaign funds since July.
Contributions include nearly $3 million from individuals and partnerships and $277,000 from corporations. In a third category, the campaign reports nearly $2 million given by limited liability companies, political action committees, unions and trade associations.
Expenses include $300,000 to Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello PC, the law firm that represented Cuomo with federal authorities investigating his early shutdown of the Moreland anti-corruption commission in 2014. The investigation last week found insufficient evidence that Cuomo committed a crime.
Cuomo is next up for re-election in 2018. While he has not formally announced plans for a third term, last spring Cuomo said he wants to serve “as long as the people will have me.”
Rep. Chris Gibson, a Hudson Valley Republican, said last week he is mulling a run for governor.