Two years after endorsing Donald Trump for president, the New York City Police Benevolent Association has thrown down $25,000 on Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul while giving nothing to Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin in their increasingly tight gubernatorial race.
“The PBA has not issued an endorsement in the race for governor. We regularly contribute to candidates of both parties, and this cycle is no exception. As always, the only goal of our political activity is to advance our members’ interests in City Hall, Albany and Washington,” PBA President Pat Lynch told The Post.
A campaign filing filed Friday shows the donation from the 24,000-member union was made on Oct. 19.
A spokesman for Hochul, who has received backing from public safety unions repping state troopers, firefighters and others, did not provide immediate comment Friday.
Zeldin has received the bulk of support from law enforcement groups while running hard on an anti-crime message ahead of the final day of voting on Nov. 8 in a race that polls show within single digits.
But the largest police union in New York City is evidently speaking with its wallet while not formally backing either candidate in the gubernatorial race – and some rank-and-file PBA members are not happy about the five-figure gift to the incumbent Democrat.
“Lynch did this without telling the union,” one long-time officer griped about the infamously fire-breathing Lynch. “Everyone in the union has been saying, when is he announcing who we are backing?”
“That’s crazy. That’s insane. I would never have expected that,” another cop told The Post.
“I’m voting for Zeldin and most other cops are, too.”
A third member of law enforcement said the wisdom of the donation will make sense if Hochul comes through for the union, with Lynch’s leadership potentially on the line.
“If he doesn’t deliver soon on a good contract he may find union members protesting on his front lawn,” the third cop said.
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