A former top aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is crossing party lines and the Hudson River to become New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s new chief of staff.
Maria Comella confirmed to CNN in an exclusive interview that she will be officially named to the position Tuesday after spending the last few months advising the Democratic governor. A lifelong Republican, this is the first time Comella has ever worked for a Democrat.
“Right now, it is important to be an active participant in our democratic process and political party matters less than the things we can accomplish when working together,” Comella told CNN in a brief interview by email. “At a time of turmoil in Washington, I believe the states can and will play an important role and Governor Cuomo has the ability to find common ground when it’s needed and get things done.”
Her resume includes some of the Republican Party’s biggest names, most notably as a chief political strategist to Christie, whose office she joined in 2009. After leaving Trenton, Comella started her own consulting company.
“Maria Comella was a longtime, trusted advisor who assisted me in accomplishing many of the great things we have done in New Jersey during her six years with me,” Christie told CNN Tuesday. “I wish her the best of luck in her new assignment with Governor Cuomo.”
Comella also has a long history of working on presidential campaigns, having joined George W. Bush, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Christie during their respective runs. That experience could benefit Cuomo if he decides to make a run of his own in 2020.
“It’s tough to see her cross lines, having worked with her on many Republican campaigns, but there is no denying she is absolutely formidable as a professional and as an operative,” Republican political strategist Kevin Madden told CNN. “Maria understands policy, she understands people and she knows how to deliver. So, if you’re looking to build out a national team in the future, Maria is a hell of a building block to start with.”
Matt Katz, author of “American Governor: Chris Christie’s Bridge to Redemption” and a reporter for WNYC and NPR said Comella likely has more in mind for the job than “wrangling votes from legislators in Albany.”
“I can’t imagine Maria coming on board for a job like this if she didn’t envision crafting a national image for her new boss,” he said. “Her talents lie in using national media and social media to accentuate her boss’ talents.”
Comella brushed aside any concerns about working for Cuomo, a lifelong Democrat.
“The fact Governor Cuomo is willing to listen to different viewpoints and work with people from the other side of the aisle is something we should welcome, and quite frankly, should want to see happen more often,” she told CNN.
Comella replaces Melissa DeRosa, who was recently promoted to be secretary to the governor, making her his top aide.
Last summer, CNN was first to report that Comella was going to support Hillary Clinton for president, despite her former boss’ staunch backing of then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
“Donald Trump has been a demagogue this whole time, preying on people’s anxieties with loose information and salacious rhetoric, drumming up fear and hatred of the ‘other,’ ” Comella said at the time.
“Instead of trying anything remotely like unifying the country, we have a nominee who would rather pick fights because he views it as positive news coverage. It may make him media savvy, but it doesn’t make him qualified or ready to be president,” she added.