ALBANY, New York — Actress Cynthia Nixon blasted Gov. Andrew Cuomo as a bully and a “wannabe Republican” on Monday during her first visit to Albany since announcing her bid for New York governor.

The “Sex and the City” star and public education advocate criticized the two-term governor for not doing enough to ensure equal opportunities for poor and minority students. She also faulted Cuomo’s effort to combat government corruption and said that while he touts himself as a progressive, he’s governed as a member of what she called Albany’s “old boys’ club.”

“We’ve all seen it: Andrew the bully. He bullies other elected officials. He bullies anyone who criticizes him,” Nixon said. “It reminds me of the behavior we see from Donald Trump every day. My experience has taught me that there is only one way to deal with a bully. You have to stand up to him.”

Nixon’s from-the-left challenge to Cuomo in September’s Democratic primary has upended what many had predicted to be an easy re-election for the two-term Cuomo, the son of the late Gov. Mario Cuomo. An ally of Cuomo’s nemesis, Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City, Nixon’s bid is highlighting Cuomo’s often uneasy relationship with liberals in his own party.

A spokesman for Cuomo’s re-election campaign did not immediately respond to messages seeking a response to Nixon’s comments on Monday. — AP