Grace Meng

President Biden’s reelection campaign on Wednesday finalized a team of 50 Democrats, including Gov. Hochul and Rep. Grace Meng of Queens, who are set to stump and fund-raise for the president during the 2024 White House race.

But in a surprising development, the roster for the high-profile surrogate squad did not include Mayor Adams, who was previously said to be a part of the team despite his frequent criticism of Biden’s immigration policies. In March, City Hall said the mayor was pleased to be a part of the president’s surrogate roster.

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Instead, it appears Hochul, the first woman elected governor of New York, and Meng, a rising star in the House, may serve as the most prominent local faces in Biden’s efforts to run up the score in deep-blue New York next year.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul arrives before President Joe Biden speaks on the debt limit during an event at SUNY Westchester Community College, Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Valhalla, N.Y. (Evan Vucci/AP)

A strong performance by Biden in New York could lift Democrats down the ballot as they seek to pry back control of the House. Republican victories in New York’s midterm election races last year helped cement the five-seat majority the GOP captured in Congress’ lower chamber.

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It was not clear why Adams was left off Biden’s so-called national advisory board.

Murmurs of the White House’s frustration at his frequent criticism of federal immigration policy began swirling long before March. Last month, the centrist Adams charged that the “national government has turned its back” on the city, which has faced waves of asylum seekers over the last year.

President Joe Biden speaks on the debt limit during an event at SUNY Westchester Community College, Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Valhalla, N.Y. (John Minchillo/AP)

A spokesman for the president’s campaign did not immediately reply to a question about the mayor. A spokesman for Adams, Evan Thies, said in a text: “The mayor stands ready to help the president with his re-election however he can.”

Adams has maintained that he is a strong supporter of the president. “I like his policies — I think he’s good for the country,” the mayor said in March. “It doesn’t mean I’m going to agree with him 100% on everything.”

A number of other prominent New York Democrats also were not on the final list, including Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn, the House minority leader; Sen. Chuck Schumer of Brooklyn, the Senate majority leader; and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of Albany.

President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting on reducing gun violence, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, July 12, 2021, in Washington. Mayor Eric Adams is pictured at far left. (Evan Vucci/AP)

Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the former leader of House Democrats, will serve as the chair of the national advisory board, according to the Democratic National Committee. Members of the team will appear in frequent interviews, attend campaign events and join fund-raisers, the DNC said.

“The stakes of this election couldn’t be higher,” Biden said in a statement. “Our freedom and democracy are on the line. I’m grateful to this group of diverse and dynamic leaders who will help us win the battle for the soul of America and finish the job for the American people.”

Other members of the squad include Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey, Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles.

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Front page of the New York Daily News for April 20, 2023: Mayor - a 2024 Biden proxy - unleashes on prez, says he's falling down on migrant crisis. Mayor Adams on Wednesday did not hold back criticism of President Biden, even though he's helping Biden's campaign. (New York Daily News)

The group comprises Democrats from red and blue states and from the party’s moderate and progressive wings — from the left-wing Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts to the moderate North Carolina governor, Roy Cooper.

Biden, 80, is seen as the prohibitive front-runner for the Democratic nomination, and no serious challenger has moved to primary him. Former President Donald Trump, 76, holds large polling leads in the growing GOP primary field.

In a statement, Meng said she was “excited to get down to work” for the campaign, adding that Biden has “enacted historic legislation to move our country forward.”

Hochul said in a statement that she was “honored to join the diverse coalition of Democratic leaders” on the team.

“President Biden and Vice President Harris have a proven track record of fighting for working families and have made clear electing a Republican would take us backward,” Hochul said in the statement. “Let’s finish the job.”