Despite a chance to face voters, several elected officials skipped the annual Columbus Day Parade Monday, which was back for the first time since the pandemic derailed all events last year, resulting in a much more muted event than in years past. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul stepped off the parade route on 5th Avenue. 

"Let's celebrate, this is the first holiday parade we're able to have since the pandemic hit so it's a great day for New Yorkers," Hochul said. 

And although it's also election season in New York, you wouldn't have known it from the sights and sounds along 5th Avenue, where several stores and business remain shut down. 

For politicians, it was a chance to get out and work the crowd, but not everyone soon to be on a ballot showed up. 

Democratic Mayoral Nominee Eric Adams was noticeably absent from the celebration, aides to Adams said he marked the holiday over the weekend.

That gave an opening to his Republican opponent, Curtis Sliwa who walked along the route, often stopping for photos and to shake hands with the crowd. 

"He's a dollar short and a day late, he should be here celebrating Italian American contributions," Sliwa told NY1. "He tries to play all ends, he tries to satisfy all people at all times."

State Attorney General Letitia James, who is mulling a run for governor, was also missing from the festivities, while Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose term is over in less than 80 days and is also considering a run for the state's highest office, got a frosty reception made up of mostly boos and tepid applause.

Given a chance to criticize her would-be opponents, Hochul took a pass.

"I'm not considering anyone else to be the candidate," Hochul said. "I am the governor and I will continue to govern and work hard for people of this state so I'm really not sidetracked with other people who may or may not do different things."