Governor Hochul's campaign is framing these endorsements as a testament to her administration's commitment to New York's creative economy, highlighting her track record of supporting entertainment industry workers and the performing arts community during challenging times.
Insiders say the timing is no coincidence—with Broadway still recovering from pandemic-era disruptions and streaming platforms reshaping Hollywood labor dynamics, these unions are making a calculated power play to lock in favorable policy decisions before any administration shift could threaten their leverage.
The three endorsing unions are Actors' Equity (representing professional actors and stage managers), IATSE (the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees covering behind-the-scenes workers), and AFM Local 802 (musicians). These endorsements were announced July 8, 2026 via Hollywood Reporter's exclusive coverage.
While Hochul basks in entertainment industry glory, questions linger about whether union brass are genuinely aligned with rank-and-file members' interests—or simply playing kingmaker for incumbents who promise favorable labor conditions.
Kathy Hochul has just pulled off what any politician would kill for: a three-union powerhouse endorsement from the entertainment industry's most influential labor organizations. The Democratic incumbent governor of New York secured backing from Actors' Equity, IATSE, and AFM Local 802 in her reelection bid, according to an exclusive report published July 8, 2026 by the Hollywood Reporter. The timing of these endorsements carries weight that political observers aren't missing.
New York's entertainment sector has spent years navigating unprecedented disruption—pandemic closures shuttered Broadway for over a year, streaming platforms have fundamentally altered compensation structures, and artificial intelligence looms as an existential threat to creative workers' livelihoods. In this environment, unions representing performers, technicians, and musicians are making calculated bets on which candidate will protect their interests when the next round of contract negotiations heats up. Actors' Equity, which represents professional actors and stage managers across theater and broadcast sectors, cited Hochul's "support for the industry" as a driving factor behind their decision.
The union's leadership clearly decided that continuity with the current administration outweighs any appetite for change among their membership base. IATSE, the massive umbrella organization for behind-the-scenes workers ranging from lighting technicians to grips, similarly threw its weight behind the incumbent. AFM Local 802, representing professional musicians in the New York area, completed the trifecta of entertainment labor endorsements.
What makes these endorsements particularly noteworthy is the sheer economic muscle they represent. Broadway alone generates billions annually for New York's economy, and the performing arts sector supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the state. When three unions with combined memberships spanning virtually every facet of entertainment production speak with one voice, governors tend to listen—regardless of party affiliation or personal feelings about labor politics.
Hochul's campaign is clearly treating these endorsements as a major victory lap moment. The Hollywood Reporter coverage positions this as validation that her administration has been good for New York's creative economy—and by extension, good for the workers who power it. Whether rank-and-file union members share their leadership's enthusiasm remains an open question that won't be answered until votes are counted in November.
