Metro

Cuomo challenger wants debate after court OKs candidacy

A Brooklyn judge on Monday rebuffed a challenge by Gov. Cuomo’s campaign to the candidacy of Democratic rival Zephyr Teachout, placing the lefty law professor on the Sept. 9 primary ballot.

The Cuomo camp quickly announced it would appeal, a move that will force Teachout to spend more of her meager $180,809 war chest on legal fees. Cuomo is sitting on a $32.5 million campaign account.

State Supreme Court Justice Edgar Walker rejected arguments that Teachout didn’t meet the five-year residency requirement to run for governor, finding she maintained a “physical presence” in New York since 2009 even while driving with a Vermont license until last May.

The judge said the license might be an issue for authorities, but is “not relevant to this determination.”

“Today we beat the governor and his old boys club in court, his two attempts to knock me off the ballot have failed,” Teachout said.

She celebrated by asking Cuomo to debate, which his campaign ignored.