Andrew Cuomo Wants to ‘Save’ NYC After He Helped Destroy It—Will Voters Buy It? [WATCH]

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has officially entered the race for New York City mayor, launching a late-stage campaign that threatens to shake up the Democratic primary and put Mayor Eric Adams’ re-election hopes in jeopardy.

Cuomo made his long-anticipated announcement through a 17-minute video, positioning himself as the candidate to restore order to a city he describes as spiraling out of control.

“The city just feels threatening, out of control,” Cuomo said in the video.

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“These conditions exist not as an act of God, but rather as an act of our political leaders. Or more precisely, the lack of intelligent action by many of our political leaders.”

Cuomo’s decision to run follows months of speculation, as he quietly built support behind the scenes while avoiding an official declaration.

His shadow campaign successfully peeled away several of Adams’ key backers, giving him a strong foothold before even entering the race.

“I know we can turn the city around and I believe I can help, and that is why I announced my candidacy today for mayor of New York City,” Cuomo stated in his announcement video, notably avoiding any direct mention of Adams.

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Adams, who was initially celebrated as a rising Democratic star after his 2021 election, has seen his support collapse following corruption allegations and a series of political scandals.

When asked about Cuomo’s candidacy on Saturday, Adams offered a brief response: “Come on, come on, come on, come on … democracy,” before stepping into an SUV.

While Cuomo is positioning himself as the solution to New York City’s struggles, he is also returning to public life after resigning from the governorship in 2021 amid multiple sexual harassment allegations—accusations he continues to deny.

Addressing the controversy in his announcement, Cuomo acknowledged past mistakes but argued that he had learned from them.

“Did I always do everything right in my years of government service? Of course not. Would I do some things differently knowing what I know now? Certainly. 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 you that every day,” he said.

Our city is in crisis. That’s why I am running to be Mayor of New York City. We need government to work. We need effective leadership. https://t.co/a0vVYRF4iP pic.twitter.com/JIrhD1Edqs

— Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) March 1, 2025

Cuomo’s reemergence comes as Adams faces historically low approval ratings, making him vulnerable in the upcoming Democratic primary.

Polling numbers have consistently shown Adams struggling to maintain voter support, creating an opening for a high-profile challenger.

Cuomo’s entry into the race has already sparked backlash from progressive Democrats, who see him as another version of Adams.

“He spent years treating New York City like his personal punching bag—slashing MTA funding and wrecking the subway while funneling money to upstate ski resorts, and trying to cut billions in funding for public school kids and Medicaid for city residents,” former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer said.

“And now he wants New Yorkers to rehabilitate his reputation? Give me a break.”

City Comptroller Brad Lander also attacked Cuomo’s record, writing on social media: “In honor of your sad attempt to get attention, let’s remember your time as Governor of New York—before you resigned for sexually harassing 13 women and leading thousands of elderly New Yorkers to their deaths during COVID-19.”

Welcome, @andrewcuomo !

In honor of your sad attempt to get attention, let’s remember your time as Governor of New York—before you resigned for sexually harassing 13 women and leading thousands of elderly New Yorkers to their deaths during Covid-19.https://t.co/JhXFMphn17 pic.twitter.com/zafkiIqD8x

— Brad Lander (@bradlander) March 1, 2025

State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a rising star in the city’s socialist movement, dismissed Cuomo as a continuation of Adams’ leadership.

“The same donors, the same agenda, the same chaos,” Mamdani said.

“And like our current disgraced Mayor, the disgraced former Governor will also be defeated this June.”

Despite the attacks, Cuomo enters the race as a frontrunner due to his statewide name recognition and Adams’ declining popularity.

Recent polling shows Cuomo leading the ranked-choice primary with 51% support after seven rounds of counting.

Adams, meanwhile, polls in the single digits, falling behind Lander and Mamdani, who stand at 31% and 18%, respectively.

Another poll funded by Cuomo’s opponents found his support at 31%, but when respondents were reminded of his past scandals, that number dropped to 19%.

Cuomo remains one of the few high-profile Democrats in the race who is not aligned with the far-left wing of the party, positioning him as a moderate alternative in a field that includes progressive candidates such as Lander, Mamdani, former Comptroller Stringer, state senators Jessica Ramos and Zelnor Myrie, former Obama aide Michael Blake, and Wall Street investor Whitney Tilson.

The growing dissatisfaction with Adams has already led some major Democratic power brokers to shift toward Cuomo.

Frank Seddio, former Brooklyn Democratic Party leader, publicly endorsed Cuomo this week—a move that carries extra significance given his close ties to Adams’ former chief-of-staff and political adviser, Frank Carone.

“I have been friends with Eric all these years,” Seddio said. “But looking at the circumstances, I don’t see a path where Eric could win.”

Cuomo, while leading in early polling, will still need to build a substantial campaign operation and raise significant funds in a short period to remain competitive.

The ranked-choice Democratic primary will take place on June 24, with the winner likely facing Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, the declared Republican candidate, in the general election this November.

Cuomo’s entry into the race sets up one of the most dramatic mayoral contests in recent memory, with the former governor aiming to achieve what his father, Mario Cuomo, could not—win the mayoralty of New York City.

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