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Lt. Gov. Hopeful Kathy Hochul: Cuomo Has Assured Me I'll Remain His Running Mate

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo's running mate says a report that he might dump her isn't true.

Kathy Hochul told WCBS 880's Alex Silverman on Tuesday that Cuomo has assured her personally "that there is no conversations, no consideration at all of any scenario than me being his running mate on Sept. 9."

"'Unequivocally' is an understatement," the former congresswoman said during an appearance in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. "It is not going to happen."

NY Lt. Gov. Hopeful Kathy Hochul: Cuomo Has Assured Me I'll Remain Running Mate

However, it's the November ballot that's really the concern.

If Tim Wu, a Columbia Law School professor running alongside gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout, wins the primary for lieutenant governor, the Democratic ticket would be Cuomo/Wu. But three other minor party lines would say Cuomo/Hochul in November, and by state law, those votes would not be combined.

Legal sources told WCBS 880 the only way Cuomo could avoid that problem would be to nominate Hochul for a judgeship after the Democratic primary.

Hochul said she thinks that's a moot point because she's not sensing any momentum from Wu, even though The New York Times endorsed him last week.

When asked repeatedly if she'll agree to debate Wu, Hochul circled around "no."

"I am a grassroots campaigner," she said.

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