Hochul names Jerrel Harvey as campaign communications director

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has hired two formidable operatives from Gov. Phil Murphy’s recent re-election campaign in New Jersey to help her win across the river in 2022.

Jerrel Harvey will serve as the communications director for Hochul, who became governor in August following the resignation of Andrew Cuomo.   He had served as deputy press secretary in the governor’s office before moving over to run the Murphy for Governor media operation.

He had worked for three Democratic legislators before taking a job with Murphy.

Miguel Arreola will the Hochul campaign’s research director – the same position he held on Murphy’s campaign.  He’s a former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee regional research director.

“Jerrel Harvey and Miguel Arreola, who played senior roles on our successful gubernatorial campaign, are rising stars in their respective fields, Murphy stated. “Jerrel served on my communications team for nearly two years and quickly earned the respect of everyone with his skill and professionalism.   Miguel led our research team with a strategic approach and a keen attention to detail.   While I’m sad to see them move on, I know our loss is a tremendous gain for Governor Hochul and her growing team.”

A third Murphy veteran, Brooklynne Roulette Mosley, had been slated to join the campaign of one of Hochul’s primary opponents, Attorney General Leticia James, but that fell through after the James campaign learned the coordinated campaign Roulette Mosley had directed was facing fire from Democrats inside and outside Murphy’s campaign for massive failures.  Roulette Mosley has returned to Kansas, at least for now.

In addition to James, Rep. Thomas Suozzi and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams are also seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Five Republicans are running for governor of New York, including Rep. Lee Zeldin, former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, and Andrew Giuliani, the son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and a 2005 graduate of Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey.

Astorino ran against Cuomo in 2014 and lost by fourteen points.  In that race, he accused the chairman of the Republican Governors Association, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, of not funding his campaign as a favor to Cuomo, one of his close friends.

Christie had called the New York race a “lost cause.”

“I am thrilled that we’re bringing together a first-in-class team that will support our efforts to engage and reach voters from every background throughout New York State,” said Hochul.     “These diverse and talented professionals have the expertise to hit the ground running on day one, and I look forward to working with them.”