New York Democratic Convention Begins Today

The Rye Town Hilton is its own miniature blue state this week as hundreds of Democrats from Buffalo to Bronxville gather at the hotel for their nominating convention.

But while most political conventions prefer to stick with happy messages, the state's unfinished budget will certainly loom large.

State lawmakers have sessions in Albany for most of the week, which may limit attendance for some.

There will be your usual meetings broken down by interest groups — rural Dems, young Dems — but all eyes are on Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo is scheduled to speak sometime during the three-day convention, though his press office told Rye Patch this morning that his schedule has not yet been finalized.

Cuomo announced his run for governor on Saturday. Cuomo's announcement was just a formality. He had been expected to join the governor's race for several months, especially after Governor David Paterson announced he would not seek re-election when a scandal broke involving domestic abuse claims against one of his top aides. 

Cuomo could likely be pitted against Republican Rick Lazio in the race for Governor. Lazio, a former U.S. Representative whom Hillary Clinton defeated to become New York's senator, is running against Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino for the Republican nomination for governor. On Monday the Siena College poll put Cuomo at 66 percent to 23 percent over GOP challengers.

During the Democratic State Convention, which takes place from May 25-27, the party will also pick its nominees for Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor and renominate Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. 

Five people are currently seeking to fill Cuomo's position, including Eric Dinallo, the state's insurance superintendent under Governor Eliot Spitzer; Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice; former federal prosecutor John "Sean" Coffey; Richard Brodsky, a fixture in the State Assembly and Westchester County politics, and New York State Senator Eric Schneiderman.

Democrats will vote to decide who wins the nomination.  

The rest of the convention's schedule includes receptions hosted by the candidates for Attorney General, a party hosted by the Westchester County Democrats and a breakfast hosted by Senators Schumer and Gillibrand. 

Check back later for updates