Michael Cohen believes in three things. He believes that taxes in New York State are too high. He believes that the legislature is dysfunctional. And he believes that Liz Krueger should not be in the State Senate—and he is willing to run twice against her in the same year to keep the popular lawmaker away from Albany.
Cohen, a business executive and counsel to Donald Trump, is preparing to challenge Krueger, a popular Upper East Side senator, for the Democratic nomination in September. But if he fails, Cohen says he may continue by jumping over to the Republican line on the November ballot, even though Krueger’s last two GOP opponents have failed to garner 50 percent of the vote—combined.
Cohen has met Manhattan Republican Party officials and with Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos, according to GOP sources at the local and state level. He also plans to meet with Ed Cox, the state Republican Party chair.
Cohen has dabbled in Republican Party politics before. In 2003, at the behest of Gov. George Pataki, he switched his registration to challenge then-Council Member Eva Moskowitz, a Democrat.
He jumped into the race against Krueger last December as a fiscal hawk. He emphasizes his business savvy, and claims to have the credentials to produce a balanced budget.
“I handle very important matters for Mr. Trump, which includes budgets and contracts— everything the state is lacking right now,” Cohen said. “If you look at her voting record, all she voted to do is tax and spend, tax and spend. It doesn’t work.”
Krueger is generally regarded as a safe incumbent, but Cohen plans to come at her with a well-funded campaign drawing on personal connections as an executive at real estate mogul Donald Trump’s organization, as well Trump’s special counsel.
Cohen starts the 2010 campaign cycle with $63,500. He claims to have more than $400,000 in pledged contributions and plans to throw in some of his own money, though he refused to give a number.
Cohen is also interested in potentially landing the Independence Party endorsement and ballot line as well.
“There are many independents that live in this district and I would like to be able to bring my message to them through that party,” Cohen said.
Krueger has taken notice of her opponent, sending out a fundraising e-mail that asks supporters to let her “continue to be a part of the solution,” for reforming Albany.
She referenced her potential opponent only as an “executive in the Trump organization.”
“I am taking him seriously because he has a strategy where he would attempt to be an every-party candidate,” Krueger said in an interview.
Cohen would need the Manhattan Republican Party to approve of his candidacy to make the GOP run. The party’s executive director Jennifer Saul, who met with Cohen, said he must meet with the district leaders that will ultimately decide which candidate gets their ballot line. Cohen, a registered Democrat, would need a Wilson-Pakula to run with another party.
“He was good enough to get the endorsement in 2003,” said one Manhattan party insider. “I’m sure that he’s someone people could live with.”
But there could be competition from a registered Republican, Saul Farber. He has already registered a campaign committee for a run at Krueger. Farber, 24, ran a quixotic but spirited campaign against Assembly Member Dick Gottfried in 2008.
He actively campaigned for the seat and raised money, which earned him goodwill with rank-and-file Republicans, the insider said.
Cohen said that despite his 2003 race, he is a true-blue Democrat.
Still, the other ballot lines do have their appeal.
“It’s something that I would consider,” Cohen said. “I’d rather focus my attention and energy on defeating Liz Krueger in the primary.”
