Even as Democratic primary challenger Cynthia Nixon criticizes his record on women's issues, Gov. Cuomo picked up the backing Wednesday morning of a leading pro-abortion rights group.
Planned Parenthood's state political action committee endorsed the reelection of Cuomo and his Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The Planned Parenthood endorsement comes amid fears by Democrats and pro-abortion activists that President Trump's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court could lead to a reversal of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion across the country.
Cuomo and Hochul previously received the backing of the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women.
"Now more than ever we need experienced leaders who understand the importance of protecting access to abortion in New York State," Planned Parenthood Empire State Votes PAC Chairwoman Robin Chappelle Golston.
Citing Cuomo's efforts to increase contraception access and coverage and his push to strengthen the state's abortion rights law, Chappelle Golston dubbed the governor a "national leader in the fight for reproductive health rights."
"In this critical moment in our nation's history, the stakes are too high," she said. "We need an experienced leader who will fight to protect New Yorkers from federal attacks on our rights and values -- and that leader is Andrew Cuomo."
Chappelle Golston also praised Hochul, who is facing a tough primary challenge from City Councilman Jumaane Williams.
In a seeming shot at Williams, who has said he personally opposes abortion though supports the legal right to it, Chappelle Golston said that "we cannot afford to have leaders who are not personally committed to our issues and other progressive values we believe in."
Cuomo this week has been holding events ripping the potential repeal of Roe v. Wade and calling on the state Senate Republicans to return to Albany to pass a measure known as the Reproductive Health Act that would strengthen the state's abortion laws.
"As Washington continues to rollback women's rights, New York will lead the way forward and continue to build on the progress we've achieved to protect a woman's fundamental right to choose," Cuomo said. "We are going to fight every day until it's done and to the New York Senate Republicans -- vote for Roe or New Yorkers will vote you out in November it's that simple."
But Nixon, who last month was endorsed by #VoteProChoice, has been among Cuomo critics who say the governor hasn't fought enough to address the abortion issue over the years. She says the Reproductive Health Act hasn't passed because Cuomo until earlier this year emboldened Republican control of the state Senate during his first seven years in office.
"New York women are left very vulnerable here because we have not codified Roe v. Wade," Nixon said at a pro-choice rally in Union Square Tuesday afternoon.
She also took a shot at Cuomo's recent comment that God made him a feminist by giving him three daughters.
"I am tired of men saying they support women's rights because they are the father of daughters," Nixon said. "Why don't you support our rights because we're human beings? Why don't you support our rights because it's the right thing to do? We are long past the time in New York State when laws concerning women are written without us present at the table as stakeholders."
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