Several New York Democrats are eager to stop Andrew Cuomo’s return to politics
The former governor is anticipated to announce his candidacy as early as this weekend, positioning himself as a leading contender.
TroibNews 
NEW YORK — Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is making a bold move to enter the New York City mayoral race, prompting growing concern among Democratic leaders about the urgency to deter his campaign.
As Cuomo prepares to announce his much-anticipated candidacy, the political landscape in the city is shifting toward unconventional strategies and less likely contenders, all designed to impede what could be a remarkable political comeback for the ex-governor and his close associates.
In recent days, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, the first Black woman to occupy that role, revealed she has filed paperwork for a potential campaign, which could challenge Cuomo’s support among Black voters in her home district of Southeast Queens. Adams’ ambition has garnered backing from New York Attorney General Letitia James, an adversary of Cuomo, whom many Democrats had hoped would run against him. Additionally, Ed Skyler, a former deputy mayor under Michael Bloomberg, is contemplating his options, recently switching his Republican registration to independent.
Organized campaigns are springing up to counteract any potential momentum for Cuomo, who is seen as the likely frontrunner in this anticipated political revival.
An anti-Cuomo super PAC has recently been formed and hired Lauren Hitt, a former staffer for Bill de Blasio, Kamala Harris, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to lead efforts aimed at criticizing Cuomo’s management and record. Another PAC had previously spent a significant sum on ads denouncing Cuomo across various media platforms, though these attacks have not appeared to affect his standing in early polling.
Cuomo’s political journey spans over 40 years, beginning with his involvement in his father's 1982 gubernatorial campaign. Throughout his career, his assertive style and tendency to confront adversaries have created a substantial list of critics, who are wary of his return to power. To combat that narrative, Cuomo is expected to kick off his campaign this weekend with a sizable group of supporters while showcasing early endorsements. His campaign also boasts its own political action committee.
Bringing significant fundraising capabilities and name recognition, Cuomo enters a Democratic primary landscape that has yet to yield a clear frontrunner. Most candidates currently in the race, aside from the indicted incumbent mayor, Eric Adams, are relatively unknown but also lack the controversial baggage that Cuomo carries.
“His numbers are really good right now, but he’s not in a debate,” noted Basil Smikle, a former executive director of the state Democratic Committee under Cuomo. “He’s going to get attacked. The mayor still has support out there and we shouldn’t discount that.”
The dynamics of the primary appear highly unpredictable for Cuomo, a cautious and sometimes unpredictable politician, who has not encountered a political challenge of this magnitude during his extensive public career. He will face off against an emerging young democratic socialist, two established left-of-center figures who have held citywide office, and two young state senators of color. Additionally, there is the potential entry of Council Speaker Adams, who shares a surname with the current mayor but is not related.
Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi highlighted the former governor’s accomplishments — including major infrastructure developments, advocacy for abortion rights, and stricter gun laws. He expressed confidence that left-leaning attacks on Cuomo would be ineffective.
“New Yorkers aren’t stupid — they know Governor Cuomo’s record of raising wages for millions, building landmark infrastructure projects like LaGuardia Airport, the Second Avenue Subway and Moynihan Train Hall, passing the strongest gun violence prevention and paid family leave programs in the nation and codifying Roe vs. Wade in state law years before the Supreme Court overturned it, and that he led the state and the nation through the dark days of COVID,” he stated. “That’s why attacks from anonymous extremist-DSA affiliated groups and politicians who have been in office for decades, yet no record of their own to run on have been — and will continue to be — completely ineffective.”
Cuomo resigned in 2021 after the New York Attorney General’s office found he sexually harassed 11 women, allegations he has vehemently denied. In the nearly four years since, he has achieved some legal victories, including the dismissal of one sexual harassment case and several prosecutors choosing not to charge him. He now stands on the brink of a political comeback, having already received endorsements from allies such as Rep. Ritchie Torres and the New York City District Council of Carpenters. While these endorsements may not significantly change the race's outcome, they are meant to convey an impression of Cuomo's early momentum in the relatively short primary season.
Despite having a favorable view among many voters, polling indicates that Cuomo's unfavorable ratings are equally high — significantly worse than those of his lesser-known competitors. New York City utilizes a ranked-choice voting system, which could lead to a scenario where Cuomo faces multiple coordinated attacks. His contentious handling of the pandemic and moderate fiscal positions may serve as targets for both liberal and conservative critics. Moreover, with Donald Trump potentially resuming the presidency, Democratic opponents may draw unfavorable comparisons to Cuomo, whom critics have long accused of exhibiting autocratic behavior.
“This race is still wide open,” asserted Lupe Todd-Medina, a Democratic consultant. “The polls coming out now are of name recognition; it’s not where voters are landing.”
Cuomo's advisers, however, assert that he is well-positioned to address the persistent concerns that voters have regarding crime and the sense of instability that has followed the pandemic. Cuomo has long considered himself a skilled manager and crisis overseer, evidenced by his response to Hurricane Sandy. His early handling of COVID transformed him into a national political figure, and he will likely utilize his combative political style to portray himself as an effective opponent to Trump.
“People are tired of homeless people attacking them in the streets; they’re tired of the chaos,” said Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf. “If they like him personally or not, they’ll like that he can make the trains run on time.”
Cuomo's team maintains that the controversies surrounding him have quieted and that recent developments have vindicated his leadership. Last year, the Justice Department concluded that the first Trump administration's investigation into Cuomo's nursing home policies was politically motivated, reinforcing the former governor's argument that the pandemic-related controversies were primarily fueled by Republican interests.
Yet critics believe there remains ample opportunity to challenge Cuomo's image as a capable manager. A new independent expenditure committee, New Yorkers For Better Leadership, has issued a three-page memorandum identifying various aspects of Cuomo’s tenure, including his COVID-related decisions, his administration's instructions regarding nursing homes, and his public transit policies. While this group has not confirmed plans to run ads against Cuomo, they aim for the memo to serve as a resource for those opposing him as the race evolves. The committee will disclose its donors as required by New York law.
“In short, Governor Cuomo is not just a bad man, he was a bad governor,” the memo stated. “New Yorkers deserve better leadership, not more of the incompetence and chaos that got us here.”
Despite this critical discourse leading up to his campaign, Cuomo remains in a favorable position according to voter surveys, and his team remains confident that his record on COVID could serve as an asset.
Cuomo's team dismissed the criticism as part of an ongoing effort linked to de Blasio, with whom Cuomo had an infamous rivalry.
“This is the third sour grape effort from the de Blasio administration in exile that has been about as effective as the de Blasio administration,” Azzopardi remarked.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
As Cuomo prepares to announce his much-anticipated candidacy, the political landscape in the city is shifting toward unconventional strategies and less likely contenders, all designed to impede what could be a remarkable political comeback for the ex-governor and his close associates.
In recent days, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, the first Black woman to occupy that role, revealed she has filed paperwork for a potential campaign, which could challenge Cuomo’s support among Black voters in her home district of Southeast Queens. Adams’ ambition has garnered backing from New York Attorney General Letitia James, an adversary of Cuomo, whom many Democrats had hoped would run against him. Additionally, Ed Skyler, a former deputy mayor under Michael Bloomberg, is contemplating his options, recently switching his Republican registration to independent.
Organized campaigns are springing up to counteract any potential momentum for Cuomo, who is seen as the likely frontrunner in this anticipated political revival.
An anti-Cuomo super PAC has recently been formed and hired Lauren Hitt, a former staffer for Bill de Blasio, Kamala Harris, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to lead efforts aimed at criticizing Cuomo’s management and record. Another PAC had previously spent a significant sum on ads denouncing Cuomo across various media platforms, though these attacks have not appeared to affect his standing in early polling.
Cuomo’s political journey spans over 40 years, beginning with his involvement in his father's 1982 gubernatorial campaign. Throughout his career, his assertive style and tendency to confront adversaries have created a substantial list of critics, who are wary of his return to power. To combat that narrative, Cuomo is expected to kick off his campaign this weekend with a sizable group of supporters while showcasing early endorsements. His campaign also boasts its own political action committee.
Bringing significant fundraising capabilities and name recognition, Cuomo enters a Democratic primary landscape that has yet to yield a clear frontrunner. Most candidates currently in the race, aside from the indicted incumbent mayor, Eric Adams, are relatively unknown but also lack the controversial baggage that Cuomo carries.
“His numbers are really good right now, but he’s not in a debate,” noted Basil Smikle, a former executive director of the state Democratic Committee under Cuomo. “He’s going to get attacked. The mayor still has support out there and we shouldn’t discount that.”
The dynamics of the primary appear highly unpredictable for Cuomo, a cautious and sometimes unpredictable politician, who has not encountered a political challenge of this magnitude during his extensive public career. He will face off against an emerging young democratic socialist, two established left-of-center figures who have held citywide office, and two young state senators of color. Additionally, there is the potential entry of Council Speaker Adams, who shares a surname with the current mayor but is not related.
Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi highlighted the former governor’s accomplishments — including major infrastructure developments, advocacy for abortion rights, and stricter gun laws. He expressed confidence that left-leaning attacks on Cuomo would be ineffective.
“New Yorkers aren’t stupid — they know Governor Cuomo’s record of raising wages for millions, building landmark infrastructure projects like LaGuardia Airport, the Second Avenue Subway and Moynihan Train Hall, passing the strongest gun violence prevention and paid family leave programs in the nation and codifying Roe vs. Wade in state law years before the Supreme Court overturned it, and that he led the state and the nation through the dark days of COVID,” he stated. “That’s why attacks from anonymous extremist-DSA affiliated groups and politicians who have been in office for decades, yet no record of their own to run on have been — and will continue to be — completely ineffective.”
Cuomo resigned in 2021 after the New York Attorney General’s office found he sexually harassed 11 women, allegations he has vehemently denied. In the nearly four years since, he has achieved some legal victories, including the dismissal of one sexual harassment case and several prosecutors choosing not to charge him. He now stands on the brink of a political comeback, having already received endorsements from allies such as Rep. Ritchie Torres and the New York City District Council of Carpenters. While these endorsements may not significantly change the race's outcome, they are meant to convey an impression of Cuomo's early momentum in the relatively short primary season.
Despite having a favorable view among many voters, polling indicates that Cuomo's unfavorable ratings are equally high — significantly worse than those of his lesser-known competitors. New York City utilizes a ranked-choice voting system, which could lead to a scenario where Cuomo faces multiple coordinated attacks. His contentious handling of the pandemic and moderate fiscal positions may serve as targets for both liberal and conservative critics. Moreover, with Donald Trump potentially resuming the presidency, Democratic opponents may draw unfavorable comparisons to Cuomo, whom critics have long accused of exhibiting autocratic behavior.
“This race is still wide open,” asserted Lupe Todd-Medina, a Democratic consultant. “The polls coming out now are of name recognition; it’s not where voters are landing.”
Cuomo's advisers, however, assert that he is well-positioned to address the persistent concerns that voters have regarding crime and the sense of instability that has followed the pandemic. Cuomo has long considered himself a skilled manager and crisis overseer, evidenced by his response to Hurricane Sandy. His early handling of COVID transformed him into a national political figure, and he will likely utilize his combative political style to portray himself as an effective opponent to Trump.
“People are tired of homeless people attacking them in the streets; they’re tired of the chaos,” said Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf. “If they like him personally or not, they’ll like that he can make the trains run on time.”
Cuomo's team maintains that the controversies surrounding him have quieted and that recent developments have vindicated his leadership. Last year, the Justice Department concluded that the first Trump administration's investigation into Cuomo's nursing home policies was politically motivated, reinforcing the former governor's argument that the pandemic-related controversies were primarily fueled by Republican interests.
Yet critics believe there remains ample opportunity to challenge Cuomo's image as a capable manager. A new independent expenditure committee, New Yorkers For Better Leadership, has issued a three-page memorandum identifying various aspects of Cuomo’s tenure, including his COVID-related decisions, his administration's instructions regarding nursing homes, and his public transit policies. While this group has not confirmed plans to run ads against Cuomo, they aim for the memo to serve as a resource for those opposing him as the race evolves. The committee will disclose its donors as required by New York law.
“In short, Governor Cuomo is not just a bad man, he was a bad governor,” the memo stated. “New Yorkers deserve better leadership, not more of the incompetence and chaos that got us here.”
Despite this critical discourse leading up to his campaign, Cuomo remains in a favorable position according to voter surveys, and his team remains confident that his record on COVID could serve as an asset.
Cuomo's team dismissed the criticism as part of an ongoing effort linked to de Blasio, with whom Cuomo had an infamous rivalry.
“This is the third sour grape effort from the de Blasio administration in exile that has been about as effective as the de Blasio administration,” Azzopardi remarked.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
