Bernie Sanders. | AP Photo/Cliff Owen Sanders supporters jeer as Cuomo picked to lead DNC delegation

ALBANY — A chorus of howls erupted at a Democratic Party meeting on Tuesday when officials loyal to Gov. Andrew Cuomo nominated him to chair the Empire State’s delegation to next month's Democratic National Convention.

The uproar was sparked by supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who won about 42 percent of the vote in New York’s April 19 primary and have been calling for respect during the convention.


They simmered last month in Saratoga Springs, as a slate of delegates was formally nominated but the formal proceedings had the hue of Hillary Clinton, who is backed by Cuomo and the rest of the state’s elected establishment.

On Tuesday, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown nominated Cuomo to lead the delegation during a pre-convention gathering at a union hall in Manhattan. There were immediate howls from Sanders supporters when Mike Reich, the Democratic State Committee’s longtime secretary, ignored shouted calls for additional nominations, people at the gathering told POLITICO New York.

“There was yelling in the back, but he shouted over it,” said Ben Yee, a Sanders delegate who is also secretary of the Manhattan Democratic Committee. “The front half of the room raised its hand. He said all opposed, and then the back half of the room raised its hand. Then there was a lot of booing and shouting. From there it degraded. People sort of went to get the food. They gave up.”

Yee said there had been a huddle of Sanders supporters before the meeting got under way to discuss strategy.

“What was agreed was that we would request an up or down vote, so people could register their discontent — and there would be a number generated,” he said. “People wanted to have their votes counted.”

Most delegates settled down for a PowerPoint presentation about the logistics of attending the convention, Yee said.

Basil Smikle, the party's executive director, said in a statement that members of the Sanders delegation "were informed weeks ago of our nominating slate, which was voted upon today in an open meeting per the process laid out on the state committee's bylaws."

Smikle said Sanders' representatives were also provided information on the process and the format of the meeting.

"Nominations were open to the floor, and then closed once none were offered," the statement said. "It is clear this primary has generated a lot of energy and enthusiasm. That's a good thing, and its what's needed to ensure Donald Trump is defeated and Hillary Clinton becomes our next president."

UPDATE: This article has been updated to include a statement from Basil Smikle, the state party's executive director.