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Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo officially entered the race to be New York City’s next mayor, drawing criticism from opponents–except for incumbent Mayor Eric Adams.
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo officially entered the race to unseat New York City Mayor Eric Adams over the weekend, framing his return to politics as a move to save a city “in crisis.” In a 17-minute video posted on X, formerly Twitter, Cuomo framed his announcement as a reintroduction and appeal. “We have had times when we are at our shining best, and there are times when we struggle and endure great hardship. But we also know we can handle a crisis because we have,” he said. “We recently did it together through COVID,” referring to his tenure during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cuomo, who left office in 2021 after being embroiled in a scandal after a report found he sexually harassed multiple women while in office, referenced that situation (as well as findings of mishandling the COVID crisis in nursing homes): “Did I make mistakes, some painfully? Definitely, and I believe I learned from them and that I am a better person for it, and I hope to show that every day,” he said. The 67-year-old also left the door open to working with President Donald Trump. “I will work with anyone who wants to work for the benefit of New York,” Cuomo said. “I hope President Trump remembers his hometown and works with us to make it better. But make no mistake, I will stand up and fight for New York. I have done it before and will do it again.”
The announcement video caps off months of speculation and strategic planning by the man once dubbed “America’s Governor.” His entry was greeted with swift attacks by his competitors in the Democratic primary, including current NYC Comptroller Brad Lander and State Senator Zellnor Myrie. As for Mayor Eric Adams, when asked by reporters about Cuomo’s declaration, he replied, “I have a great record to run on. We look forward to the campaign.” Adams is still wrangling with federal corruption charges, as well as potentially having to return $10 million in matching campaign funds from 2021 in addition to having matching donation requests denied. Cuomo currently has a campaign chest of $8 million, which he could use in conjunction with a super PAC known as Fix The City created by former supporters.
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