Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) pledged to continue funding New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s universal childcare initiative Monday as the city prepares to add 10,000 free seats for 2-year-olds in fall 2027, setting up a possible budget fight over how to pay for the program’s long-term expansion.

Hochul and Mamdani announced the new seats at a press conference in the Bronx, where City Council Speaker Julie Menin voiced support for the effort, and Comptroller Mark Levine promised to expedite contracts with childcare providers.