Actress and liberal activist Cynthia Nixon, one of the stars of the hit television series “Sex and the City,” announced on Monday she would run for governor of New York, challenging incumbent Andrew Cuomo for the Democratic nomination.
“I love New York, and today I’m announcing my candidacy for governor,” Nixon, 51, said on Twitter.
Her campaign sets up a battle for the Sept. 13 primary between a celebrity on the left of the Democratic Party and a moderate governor who is often mentioned as a possible presidential hopeful in 2020.
Cuomo, 60, the son of late New York Governor Mario Cuomo, is seeking his third term. The general election is Nov. 6. If successful in both the primary and general elections, Nixon would become New York’s first female and first openly gay governor.
A statement by Nixon’s campaign called her a progressive alternative to Cuomo, referring to the governor as a centrist whose aides were mired in legal trouble. It also made note of the state’s role in operating New York City’s antiquated and much maligned subway system.
An accompanying video, which shows Nixon at home with her wife, Christine Marinoni, and their young son Max, also addresses income inequality.
