Andrew Cuomo simply gained’t cease.
The disgraced former governor of New York introduced Monday that he’s pursuing a third-party run for New York Metropolis mayor, regardless of having confronted a robust loss to Zohran Mamdani within the Democratic major final month.
“As my grandfather used to say, whenever you get knocked down, be taught the lesson and decide your self again up and get within the sport, and that’s what I’m going to do,” Cuomo stated in a brand new marketing campaign video.
Cuomo will seem on the overall election poll underneath the impartial “Battle and Ship” occasion—a fallback title he created in case he misplaced the Democratic nomination. His return units the stage for a busy five-way common election in opposition to Mamdani, embattled Mayor Eric Adams (now working as an impartial), Republican Curtis Sliwa, and impartial Jim Walden.
The previous governor is anticipated to compete primarily with Adams for average and business-minded voters who could be fearful about Mamdani’s democratic socialist platform, which features a hire freeze for stabilized flats and free citywide bus service.
Cuomo entered the Democratic major because the front-runner. He had widespread title recognition, main labor endorsements, and backing from the true property business. However his limp comeback pitch, during which he not often engaged in interviews or unscripted interactions with voters, crumbled underneath Mamdani’s energized progressive base and a surge of grassroots assist.
A coordinated “Don’t Rank Cuomo” marketing campaign additionally harm his possibilities within the race, which used ranked-choice voting. (The overall election is not going to use ranked alternative.) In the long run, Mamdani beat Cuomo by greater than 12 share factors within the last spherical of voting.
Now Cuomo is relying on a broader general-election coalition—independents, disillusioned Democrats, and institutional allies—to dam Mamdani’s path to Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s official residence.
However the journey forward is tough. Cuomo carries baggage that led to his resignation as governor in 2021, together with quite a few sexual harassment allegations and a revived Justice Division probe into his COVID-19 disaster administration.
In his newest video, Cuomo targeted on Mamdani, ignoring the opposite candidates altogether.
“Solely 13% of New Yorkers voted within the June major. The overall election is in November, and I’m in it to win it,” Cuomo stated. “My opponent, Mr. Mamdani, affords slick slogans however no actual options.”
In the meantime, Mamdani’s group brushed it off.
“Whereas Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams are tripping over themselves to chop backroom offers with billionaires and Republicans, Zohran Mamdani is targeted on making this metropolis extra inexpensive for New Yorkers,” stated a Mamdani marketing campaign spokesperson. “That’s the selection this November.”
Nonetheless, Cuomo’s spot on the poll isn’t assured. Based on The New York Instances, sources near his marketing campaign say he would possibly withdraw by early September if polling reveals he isn’t the strongest opponent to Mamdani. If that occurs, he’s anticipated to push different challengers to do the identical. (Adams and Sliwa have each stated they’ll keep in regardless.)
With Democrats outnumbering Republicans practically 6 to 1 within the metropolis, Mamdani stays the favourite. And a few of Cuomo’s former allies have jumped ship and backed Mamdani. Others, particularly among the many metropolis’s wealthiest and the luxurious actual property business, are nonetheless searching for one of the best ways to cease the democratic socialist and like to see the sector slim behind both Adams or Cuomo.
The overall election is scheduled for Nov. 4. Whether or not Cuomo will nonetheless be within the race by then stays to be seen.
