Former Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon says she’ll run in New York’s Democratic primary for governor in September.

Her announcement sets up a race pitting an openly gay liberal activist against two-term incumbent Andrew Cuomo, who has a $30 million war chest and possible presidential ambitions.

In a video on Twitter, Nixon said, “We want our government to work again.”

Nixon in recent speeches has called on Democrats nationally to carve out a strong liberal identity instead of being merely the “anti-Trump party.”

“This is a time to be visible,” Nixon said. “This is a time to fight.”

Nixon’s platform on her campaign website seems to focus on progressive concerns of income inequality, health care availability, concerns about mass incarceration and “fixing our broken subway.”

I love New York, and today I'm announcing my candidacy for governor. Join us: https://t.co/9DwsxWW8xX pic.twitter.com/kYTvx6GZiD

— Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) March 19, 2018

Nixon talks up her New York City bona fides, noting that she has never lived anywhere else but the city.

She declares herself to be “a proud public school graduate and a proud public school parent.”

Nixon played career-focused lawyer Miranda Hobbes on Sex and the City from 1998-2004.

The 51-year-old Manhattan mother of three is an ally of Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who frequently clashes with Cuomo on various issues.

60-year-old Cuomo was favoured 66 per cent to 19 per cent over Nixon in a recent poll.