Transit union gives big bucks to NY Gov. Hochul’s campaign while blasting her in public

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The influential union boss representing a majority of the MTA’s workforce has in recent months publicly called Gov. Kathy Hochul an “enemy” of transit workers. But behind the scenes, his organization has poured cash into her campaign fund.

Transport Workers Union International President John Samueslen has since last year repeatedly blamed Hochul for fraught contract negotiations with Metro-North workers, which were resolved in November. In the last month alone, he’s called for Attorney General Letitia James to run for governor in 2026, described Hochul as a "Little Leaguer" and claimed she’s “accomplished zilch.”

TWU Local 100’s campaign contributions point to a different view of Hochul’s record. The local – which is a chapter of TWU International – represents more than 40,000 rank-and-file New York City transit workers. On July 11, the local donated $18,000 — the maximum allowed under state law — to Hochul’s campaign fund, according to records published this week.

While Samuelsen oversees the international union, he explained the local chapter has “autonomy, and that includes the ability to make political contributions where it’s permissible.” He said no other TWU locals would be donating to Hochul.

A spokesperson for Hochul’s campaign declined to comment.

Still, the hefty donation highlights the fraught politics that contributed to Hochul’s decision to indefinitely pause congestion pricing. Even as Samuelsen slammed the governor’s office for its conduct during the Metro-North negotiations, he supported Hochul’s decision in June to halt the tolling program. He'd called the proposed tolls “a total abrogation of Hochul’s responsibility to working class New Yorkers” that should have been accompanied by an expansion of public transit.

“John Samuelsen knows better than anyone that New York's economy is an attention economy – the more over-the-top the comment, the more likely it's going to get attention,” Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, said. “On the merits, though, the governor has recently delivered on an important union issue, pausing congestion pricing.”

Hochul, for her part, has said that the $15 base fare of congestion pricing “could break the budget of a hard-working middle-class household.”

Yet Hochul’s decision continues to be a political vulnerability – just take a look at the flyers posted in subway stations throughout the city blaming her for delayed trains. The donation shouldn’t be interpreted as a sign Hochul will receive the union’s support if she runs for reelection in 2026, Samuelsen said.

“She’s the exact type of Democrat who’s crippling (President) Joe Biden’s chances,” he said.

Curious Commuter

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Does anyone actually monitor the new email address to monitor the G line shutdown? I have submitted an email complaint and never received even an acknowledgment.

You’re one of the few riders who have sent a missive to that email address. The MTA has appointed a “czar,” Hugo Zamora, to keep commuters moving on shuttle buses along the G line during the summer shutdown that began last month. The agency puts out a weekly G train newsletter. And it has an email address, [email protected], where commuters can ask questions about the project.

(Why they opted to use a Gmail address is a mystery to me.)

But MTA officials say it’s hardly used: Only 11 people have emailed the address, and eight of them got responses, according to MTA spokesperson Kayla Shults. Benjamin’s inquiry is among the three that did not receive a reply.

“The general themes of these emails are shuttle bus lanes being blocked, subsequent traffic delays and NYPD enforcement," Shults wrote in a statement.

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