Hochul running mate in NY gov race hit with campaign finance violation for DNC travel

Gov.Kathy Hochul’s running mate was dinged by election officials for allegedly misusing campaign funds on travel to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, The Post has learned.Former City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who is now running for lieutenant governor, was hit with a $3,585 penalty last week by the City Campaign Finance Board.CFB officials found Adams violated campaign finance laws by reimbursing herself for travel to the convention, which took place in Chicago, Illinois from August 19-22.“At the invitation of the DNC, then-Speaker Adams traveled to the 2024 convention to uplift Democrats in a critical election cycle.

The funds in question were used for that political travel,” ex-Adams campaign treasurer Adjoa Esinam Gzifa confirmed in a statement to The Post.Kyle Kennedy, legislative program manager at good government group Reinvent Albany, said it appears the ex-speaker made a “no-no”.“Spending campaign funds for personal use is a big no-no and a law that should never be violated by a Council Speaker, who should have top professionals running their campaign and keeping them out of trouble.Plus, CFB provides a candidate services liaison to every campaign, whose job it is to help candidates follow the rules,” Kennedy said.The CFB voted unanimously to ding Adams last week, but a spokesperson for the board puzzlingly refused to share any specifics — beyond a press release noting the penalty amount and that Adams had violated rules around “converting campaign funds to a personal use.”Adams’ 2023 Council campaign is not contesting the determination and will pay the fine through her campaign account, despite it showing a negative balance of just under $200,000.Esinam Gzifa said that amount was transferred to Adams’ mayoral campaign account — when she mounted a failed bid for the Democratic nomination last year.“The 2023 campaign is not in debt.

There is still money in the account.The $200,000 in question was an allowable trans...