The dust has barely settled on this year’s 2017 legislative session and already talk has started on next year’s gubernatorial race. While current governor Andrew Cuomo has said publicly that he intends to run for a third term, several political observers have noted that the “third time is rarely the charm,” especially if Governor Cuomo has his sights set on the 2020 Presidential campaign.

With his approval rating slipping, potential challengers have started to surface. Republican State Senator John DeFrancisco from Syracuse has announced that he has formed an exploratory committee. Stephanie Miner, the Democratic Mayor of Syracuse, has also expressed an interest in the office. (She is term-limited as Mayor.) And Terry Gipson, a former State Senator, also appears to be another possible Democratic challenger.

The New York Times offers an interesting analysis of possible challengers to the Governor and why he may be vulnerable.

As part of this year’s Executive Budget, Governor Cuomo proposed a series of procurement “reforms,” however, all but one of them was dropped during budget negotiations.  The enacted budget did extend the sunset date for the State’s Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) Program until April 15, 2018 and also provided that the program will continue until the end of 2018 if a required statewide disparity study is completed and delivered to the Governor and the Legislature by June 30^th.

The Governor’s proposals, provisions including creating a Chief Procurement Officer, a Buy American preference for American made products in construction and other contracts, Inspectors General to oversee procurement in several public authorities and the prohibition of contributions by vendors bidding on contracts, were dropped from the budget during negotiations with the Senate and Assembly.

Procurement reform, including a number of proposals from State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, is likely to be deliberated in the final weeks of this year’s legislative session.