Three Democratic county leaders on Thursday endorsed Gov. Kathy Hochul's bid for a full term next year ahead of what could be a competitive party primary come June.

The county chairs — Jake Crawford of Albany County, Zach King of Monroe County and Pamela Hunter of Onondaga County — also endorsed Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, as well as incumbent Attorney General Letitia James and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

But James, along with New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Rep. Tom Suozzi and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, are considered potential challengers in a Democratic gubernatorial primary for Hochul.

Hochul took office Aug. 24 to replace the scandal-scarred Andrew Cuomo. A Marist College poll released this week showed Hochul leading primary fields that include Cuomo, James and Williams.

“There is no better friend to Upstate New York than Governor Hochul, a Buffalo native who has traveled throughout our state and met with more residents than any other elected official — always greeting them warmly, listening to their concerns, and taking action,” Crawford, King, and Hunter said. “New York is currently in a precarious position as the state, businesses, and families continue to recover from the pandemic."

The endorsements from the county leaders also come as State Democratic Committee Chairman Jay Jacobs has given his "personal" endorsement of Hochul's election and has been trying to stave off what he worries could be a divisive primary season for the party next year.