Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor, said on Monday that he will run as an independent in New York City’s mayoral race, after losing in the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani.
Many saw Cuomo as the favorite in the primary, but he ultimately lost to Mamdani, a current member of the New York state assembly, by more than 12 points.
Some corporate leaders, moderate Democrats and Republicans have expressed concern about Mamdani’s progressive policy platform and stance on issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Cuomo, who resigned as New York governor in 2021 after facing sexual harassment allegations, also faces competition from Republican Curtis Sliwa, and the current New York mayor, Eric Adams, who also decided to run as an independent following a federal indictment.
People close to Cuomo’s campaign attributed the primary loss to an “an anemic get-out-the-vote effort”, according to a Politico report. In announcing the independent run, Cuomo thanked his supporters and said: “I am truly sorry that I let you down.
“As my grandfather used to say, when you get knocked down, learn the lesson and pick yourself back up and get in the game, and that is what I’m going to do.”
He only mentioned “his opponent” Mamdani and not any of the other candidates, but some, including Adams, have suggested that the independents and the Republican candidate will simply pull votes away from one another, clearing the path for Mamdani to win.
“While Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams trip over each other to win the approval of billionaires in backrooms, our campaign remains focused on working New Yorkers and their clear desire for a different kind of politics,” Mamdani posted on X.
Mamdani has support from 35% of registered voters, while 25% Cuomo, followed by Sliwa and Adams in fourth place, according to a poll taken earlier this month by Slingshot Strategies.
