Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will endorse New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his contested primary with actress and progressive activist Cynthia Nixon this week.
A Clinton spokesman confirmed her intention to the New York Times, which described the move as one "sure to enrage liberal activists seeking Mr. Cuomo’s ouster."
Clinton faces distrust from those activists, who are often associated with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and his presidential campaign. They see the former secretary of state as being too much of an ideological centrist and being an "avatar of the Democratic establishment."
The Sanders-affiliated group "Our Revolution," which spun off from Sanders' presidential campaign, endorsed Nixon in the primary.
Cuomo and Nixon both supported Clinton in the Democratic primary against Sanders and Nixon has repeatedly said Clinton's presidential campaign inspired her to challenge Cuomo.
Nixon said in a public radio interview in April that Clinton's loss motivated her to run against Cuomo, and she told Glamour in March that Clinton's defeat was one of the factors that motivated her to run.
It is unclear what level of involvement Clinton will have in the race, or if her husband, former President Bill Clinton, will also endorse Cuomo.