Over the last 48 hours, New York politics has seen the state's three-term former governor facing a misdemeanor forcible touching charge, the entrance of Attorney General Letitia James into the campaign for governor in what would be a history-making run, and the news the state could have as much as $4 billion more than initially projected for the state budget. 

The next few months could bring even more surprises. 

James' announcement on Friday, long expected, sets up what could be a clash on the scale not seen since Mario Cuomo was challenged in a Democratic primary by New York City Mayor Ed Koch in 1982.

• SEE ALSO | How James' run for governor changes the primary

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who took office just over two months ago in the wake of Andrew Cuomo's resignation, has spent the last several weeks crisscrossing the state at a mix of government events and political gatherings, rising her profile in the process as well as campaign cash. 

James, meanwhile, has also traveled the state, in localized announcements to highlight the distribution of money from opioid settlements. 

The Democratic primary could still grow even bigger: Rep. Tom Suozzi is considering a bid, as is New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who leaves office at the end of the year. New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams filed paperwork to run for governor as well, though he is yet to roll out an official announcement. 

“Right now, I am very focused on governing,” Hochul said on Friday during a stop in western New York. “I anticipate there will be many, many people running."

On the governing side, Hochul could have some potential advantages in the billions of dollars. Come January, the state budget process is set to begin. And New York's revenue, while put on ice during the initial weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, has thawed significantly. 

Hochul's budget office on Friday announced revenue to the state is $4 billion higher than initially estimated earlier this year. "Risks remain" has been the watch word for the state budget, and the state is placing $3.3 billion in a savings fund for a rainy day. But having more money than anticipated is not a bad problem to have when you're a chief executive with an election coming up. 

That additional money could be used to keep key constituencies happy, or potentially on the sidelines heading into the new year with the accelerated political calendar. 

"Our state's fiscal picture has strengthened significantly from the dire straits we faced last year, but with Delta and other variants of COVID-19 still posing a threat to our economic recovery, we must be cautious," Hochul said. "In the face of this uncertainty, I am growing state reserves so that in the event of an economic downturn we will have the resources to continue supporting New Yorkers while at the same time keep New York moving forward."

Cuomo is also sitting on a mountain of cash — $18 million in a campaign war chest that Democratic lawmakers not-so-quietly fear he could use to run for office once again. For now, there's no indication Cuomo is using any of that money other than to pay for his legal defense. 

The ex-governor is facing a misdemeanor charge of forcible touching, stemming from an allegation leveled against him by a former aide, Brittany Commisso, saying he groped her at the Executive Mansion. 

News of the criminal complaint against Cuomo in the case became the source of a whiplash-inducing few hours on Thursday, and Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said Friday the disclosure caught him by surprise. Apple insisted the release of the criminal complaint without the consultation of Albany County District Attorney David Soares shouldn't hinder prosecution of the case. 

Nevertheless, Team Cuomo was again on the offensive. Spokesman and advisor Rich Azzopardi called Apple a "cowboy sheriff." Cuomo attorney Rita Glavin questioned the timing of the summons and the disclosure of the complaint.  

"The timing of this charge, on the eve of Tish James announcing her run for Governor, is highly suspect and should give all of us pause that the heavy hand of politics is behind this decision," she said. “We expect clear-headed people will make better decisions going forward, but should this case move forward we are prepared to vigorously defend the Governor and challenge every aspect of the specious, inconsistent and uncorroborated allegations made against him.”

Apple, for his part, denied he spoke with James about the investigation and that anything was timed toward the announcement of her campaign. He shrugged off the claims of playing politics in the case. 

"This is my job. I'd rather throw it at me than throw it and revicitimize the victims over and over and over," he said. "I've been doing this a long time. I've been called much worse."