Former Gov Cuomo Hints Run For NYC Mayor
Former Democratic Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, is reportedly considering running for mayor of New York City in 2025 if current Mayor Eric Adams does not survive a federal investigation into his campaign finances. According to sources close to Cuomo, he is considering throwing his hat in the ring if Adams is taken down by the ongoing investigation.
Cuomo, who resigned in disgrace in August 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations and accusations of covering up the death toll in nursing homes during the pandemic, has been planning his political comeback. In an October interview with Politico, he stated that he has not ruled out the possibility of running for political office again.
However, Cuomo's potential bid for mayor of New York City would not involve challenging Eric Adams in the upcoming 2021 election. Instead, he would wait until the 2025 election, assuming Adams is not able to survive the current investigation. Eight people who have spoken with Cuomo or members of his inner circle have confirmed that he is considering running for mayor in 2025.
One source, Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr., a former state senator and ex-member of the New York City Council, stated that he got the impression from his conversation with Cuomo last week that the former governor is ready to jump back into politics. "No one knows what's going to happen in the city," Diaz said.
The federal investigation into Adams focuses on potential collusion between his campaign and the Turkish government. While Adams himself has not been accused of any illegal activity, federal agents seized his electronic devices earlier this month as part of the investigation. Additionally, the campaign's former intern and fundraising staffer, Brianna Suggs, had her apartment raided by the FBI as they gathered evidence to determine if she solicited foreign donations from the Turkish government.
Cuomo's potential run for mayor of New York City would coincide with several challenges facing the city, including managing the budget amid an influx of illegal immigrants and addressing the persistent issue of crime. Despite these challenges, some believe that Cuomo could still be a competitive candidate due to his support from African-American and Latino communities and more moderate voters.
Although Cuomo has publicly expressed support for Adams, some New York voters recently received a poll testing potential messaging strategies for a Cuomo comeback. This has led some to believe that his potential bid for mayor is more than just exploratory.
In response to the news of Cuomo's potential run, former executive director for the state Democratic Committee, Basil Smikle, stated, "Though difficult, he could still be competitive." He added that Cuomo may have support in key voting communities and among more moderate voters.
Neither Cuomo nor Adams's office responded immediately to requests for comment. It remains to be seen whether Cuomo will follow through with his potential bid for mayor of New York City in 2025.