Hochul Secures Firefighter Unions’ Endorsements

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has received endorsements from three major firefighter unions as she campaigns for reelection in 2026. The Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA), Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA) and New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association (NYSPFFA) announced their support on September 11, the 25th anniversary of 9/11. According to a report by City & State New York, the unions cited Hochul’s record on 9/11 worker protections and firefighter retirement benefits.

What Happened

The three unions announced their endorsements jointly on September 11.

The organizations are led by:

• Bobby Eustace, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association
• James Brosi, president of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association
• Sam Fresina, president of the New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association

In their joint statement, the union leaders said first responders and families affected by 9/11 have obligations from public officials to address their needs. They specifically pointed to Hochul’s policies affecting the 9/11 community.

Hochul thanked the unions for their support and referenced firefighters who died on September 11, 2001, as well as those who later became ill.

Why the Unions Endorsed Hochul

The unions identified two major policy areas behind their endorsements.

September 11th Worker Protection Task Force

The unions cited Hochul’s revival of the September 11th Worker Protection Task Force.

The task force focuses on issues affecting workers who were exposed to hazards following the September 11 attacks and the continuing needs of the 9/11 community.

Tier 3 and Tier 6 Retirement Benefits

The unions also cited reforms to Tier 3 and Tier 6 retirement benefits included in the state’s 2026 budget.

Retirement benefits are a significant issue for public-sector unions because pension rules can affect recruitment, retention and long-term compensation for workers.

For candidates, this illustrates how an endorsement can be connected to specific policy issues rather than being solely based on party affiliation.

The Endorsement Is Not the First

The three endorsements continue relationships that predate the 2026 election.

The UFA and UFOA both endorsed Hochul in her 2022 gubernatorial campaign.

City & State also reported that the NYSPFFA’s political arm spent money supporting Hochul in that election. All three unions are affiliates of the state AFL-CIO, which had already endorsed Hochul during the current election cycle.

However, affiliation with a larger labor organization does not automatically determine whether every member organization will endorse the same candidate. City & State noted that the Transport Workers Union has demonstrated that distinction during the current cycle.

Why Union Endorsements Matter in NYC Elections

Labor endorsements can be relevant to campaigns because unions can have established membership networks, political organizations and voter-contact operations.

An endorsement does not automatically translate into votes, but it can provide a campaign with an additional organizational relationship.

For candidates running for office in NYC, understanding how endorsements work is therefore part of broader campaign planning.

What This Means for NYC Candidates

The Hochul endorsement illustrates several practical lessons for people considering how to run for office in NYC.

Build Relationships Before Endorsement Season

Candidates should not wait until an endorsement deadline to begin communicating with organizations.

Labor unions, neighborhood groups, advocacy organizations and political clubs may have their own internal processes for evaluating candidates.

A candidate can research:

• Which organizations represent voters or workers in the district
• When endorsements are decided
• Whether candidate questionnaires are required
• Whether interviews or forums are part of the process
• Who has authority to make the endorsement

This preparation is particularly important for first-time candidates who may not already have established political relationships.

Understand What an Endorsement Actually Provides

Candidates should also distinguish between different forms of political support.

An endorsement might involve a public statement, while a political organization may separately provide volunteers, voter outreach or financial support through legally permitted channels.

These activities can have different campaign-finance implications.

Candidates should therefore avoid treating an endorsement and a campaign contribution as the same thing.

Campaign Finance Matters

Union political activity can intersect with campaign finance rules.

Candidates should understand contribution limits, disclosure requirements, political committee rules and expenditure restrictions that apply to their race.

For NYC candidates participating in the city’s public matching-funds program, additional Campaign Finance Board requirements may apply.

A campaign should document financial activity carefully and distinguish campaign funds from other forms of political activity.

Use Endorsements Within a District Strategy

A major endorsement is only one component of a campaign.

A City Council candidate still needs a district strategy based on the electorate they are seeking to represent.

Campaigns can combine organizational outreach with:

• Voter data
• Canvassing
• Community meetings
• Digital outreach
• Volunteer recruitment
• Direct voter conversations

The relevant question for a campaign is not simply which organizations support the candidate, but how that support fits into the campaign’s broader voter-contact plan.

Connect Policy to Voter Concerns

The firefighter unions’ explanation for their endorsement also shows why candidates should connect endorsements to documented policy positions.

The unions identified specific issues involving 9/11 workers and retirement benefits.

For a City Council campaign, candidates can similarly explain why a particular organization supports them and which policies or issues are driving that support.

This gives voters more information than simply listing endorsement logos.

Ballot Access Is Separate From Endorsements

An endorsement does not place a candidate on the ballot.

Candidates running for NYC office must separately meet applicable eligibility, petitioning, filing and ballot-access requirements.

This distinction is important for first-time candidates.

A campaign can spend significant time building relationships with unions and other organizations while still needing to complete all required election filings.

A practical campaign timeline should therefore track endorsement outreach separately from ballot-access deadlines and campaign-finance compliance.

Campaign Messaging and Labor Support

The firefighter endorsements also demonstrate how campaigns can incorporate organizational support into broader messaging.

Hochul’s campaign can point to support from firefighter organizations while the unions can explain the policy issues that influenced their decision.

For NYC candidates, this provides a useful messaging framework:

Organization → policy issue → candidate record or position → relevance to voters.

Rather than simply stating that an organization endorsed the campaign, candidates can explain what the endorsement represents and why the organization reached that conclusion.

What Happens Next

The three firefighter unions’ endorsements add to Hochul’s existing labor support as she seeks another term as governor.

The endorsements came on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and specifically referenced the governor’s actions involving the 9/11 community and public-sector retirement benefits.

For NYC candidates, the broader lesson is that endorsements are part of a larger campaign ecosystem. Building relationships with labor organizations and community groups can be useful, but candidates also need a clear district strategy, compliant campaign finance operations, accurate voter data and a plan for meeting ballot-access requirements.

The Hochul campaign demonstrates how organizational endorsements can connect a candidate’s policy record with the priorities of groups active in the electorate. For first-time candidates, understanding that relationship can help turn endorsement outreach into a structured part of campaign planning rather than an isolated campaign milestone.

Related Reading

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Hochul Tries to Hold the Center as New York Politics Shifts

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