Gov. Kathy Hochul will have some explaining to do to voters in the wake of Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin’s resignation last week.

The problem isn’t the allegations about Benjamin. The former state Senator and candidate for New York City Comptroller hasn’t broken rules during his time as the state’s second-in-command.

This problem is one of politics — namely, not cutting bait with Benjamin when it became apparent there was significant heat from an investigation into Benjamin’s fundraising for the New York City comptroller race. The Albany Times Union first reported on allegations in November (three months after Benjamin was named lieutenant governor) that real estate developer Gerald Migdol had been arrested in connection with a campaign finances scheme that allegedly used fraud to secure millions of dollars in public matching funds for Benjamin’s comptroller bid. Benjamin’s indictment last week came after Benjamin was accused of steering a $50,000 grant to a charity run by Migdol in exchange for campaign contributions, including some allegedly given fraudelently in the names of other people.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Benjamin repeatedly lied about the situation when asked about it before becoming lieutenant governor, though it makes one wonder if Hochul or anyone on her executive team read the Times Union report But there is little reason why Hochul stood by Benjamin for an additional four months after the original indictment against Migdol was filed.

Hochul admitted to the Times Union she believed Benjamin over New York City news reports about the allegations and investigations — a pretty strong indictment given Hochul’s husband is a former U.S. Attorney who, we have a feelng, saw through Benjamin’s flimsy excuses.

Hochul wants four more years as governor, but her extraordinary lapse in judgement means she likely faces a much tougher road to re-election. To make the road easier, Democrats want to make it easier to remove a candidate from the ballot. We disagree with such posturing.

Hochul made a bad choice sticking by Brian Benjamin. She should have to live with that choice by seeing Benjamin’s name linked with hers on primary election ballots — and voters should be reminded when they cast their vote of Hochul’s lack of judgement.