NEW YORK MINUTE: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the influential far-left Democrat who represents Queens and the Bronx, has called on Mayor Eric Adams to resign. Her Wednesday afternoon declaration makes her the first member of congress to demand the embattled Democratic mayor’s ouster. So far six other city and state New York lawmakers have called for his resignation. “The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening government function,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement on X. “Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration.” Adams did not respond to a request for comment. APOLOGY ACCEPTED: Anyone can apologize to Gov. Kathy Hochul — and she’ll gladly accept. That’s what the governor told Playbook today after Democratic congressional candidate Mondaire Jones said he didn’t want a “little bitch” as governor in a new article in The New Yorker published this morning. “I want my Democratic governor of New York to be a political animal — I want them to maximize Democratic power,” Jones told the magazine. “I want my Democratic governor of New York to be Nancy Pelosi, O.K.? And not some, like, little bitch who is afraid to stick his or her neck out.” Jones, who also maintained that Hochul’s predecessor Andrew Cuomo would’ve handled the state redistricting process better, also said he was “not talking about any specific person,” after making the remark. Hochul told POLITICO today that she hadn’t read Jones’ comments — but believes him when he says he wasn’t referring to her, and accepts his apology anyway. (Jones called Hochul last night to apologize). “What did he say?” Hochul first asked Playbook when asked about Jones’ remarks. “I don’t read. I got to do my job.” After Playbook read Jones’ comments to Hochul, she told Playbook she still stands by Jones and will continue to support him in his congressional race against Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in the Hudson Valley. “He apologized, but I hadn’t read the article,” the governor said. “But I accepted it. Anyone who wants to apologize to me can apologize to me and set the record straight.” The comments from Jones touched on a trifecta of highly offensive subjects for the governor, who assumed her post three years ago after Cuomo resigned in a series of sexual harassment scandals. In one breath, Jones praised two of Hochul’s political enemies and used a sexist slur. “While I was not talking about the Governor, and made clear during the interview that I was not referring to the Governor, I should have chosen my words more wisely,” Jones said in a statement Wednesday. “I have spoken with the Governor and apologized for this distraction. The Governor has invested tremendously in the Lower Hudson Valley and has allowed us to open up field offices and hire incredible staff who are organizing our communities across the district.” One senior Democratic party official, who asked not to be named to discuss the sensitive topic, said the governor is used to crude remarks like this one. “As a woman who has been in elected office for 30 years, not much surprises the governor or gets under her skin,” the person said. “Given her investments in Mondaire’s race, I’d want to stay on her good side.” Less than three months after Hochul was elected the first female governor of New York, she was openly criticized by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for dragging down down-ballot Democrats in her surprisingly close gubernatorial race — a campaign Pelosi says is responsible for the party losing control of the House. Last month Pelosi again casted blame on Hochul for the Democrats’ loss of control of the House in an interview with POLITICO. The former Speaker’s comments have assumed increased importance as the governor doubles down and place outsize focus on winning New York’s battleground congressional races. Hochul, who has gone to great lengths to emphasize her commitment to winning New York’s House races, has even asked donors to contribute to congressional Democrats instead of her. “I'm focused on making sure Hakeem Jeffries is the next Speaker of the House of Representatives, full stop,” the governor said today, while reiterating her support for Jones, with whom she recently campaigned in northern Westchester County. Lawler, the Republican Hochul is set on ousting in favor of Jones, has already said Hochul’s low-key support of his opponent is indicative of Hochul being a drag on his opponent’s campaign. He reiterated that position in a statement to Playbook Wednesday afternoon. “The truth is Mondaire Jones is stuck with Kathy Hochul and Kathy Hochul is stuck with Mondaire Jones,” Lawler said in a statement. “Two failed politicians, out of touch with voters, and willing to say or do anything – even eat personal insults from each other – just to cling to power. It’s embarrassing,” he said. — Jason Beeferman | 
