Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been facing criticism from potential challengers in the 2025 mayoral race. City Comptroller Brad Lander and Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani were quick to rebuke Cuomo amid rumors that he may enter the race without officially declaring his candidacy.
Lander criticized Cuomo for not living in the city for most of his adult life, despite growing up in Queens. He accused Cuomo of being out of touch with the needs of New Yorkers and being an agent of corruption and chaos. On the other hand, Cuomo’s spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, neither confirmed nor denied the reports of Cuomo’s potential mayoral bid, emphasizing that it was premature.
The criticism against Cuomo also included allegations of a cover-up of nursing home deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, referral to the Justice Department for alleged lying, and sexual misconduct allegations. Despite these accusations, Cuomo vehemently denies any wrongdoing.
Mamdani suggested that Cuomo’s delay in officially joining the race was to avoid scrutiny of his record as the state’s top executive. Other candidates, such as Scott Stringer, have also been vocal in highlighting Cuomo’s potential liabilities, excluding the sexual misconduct allegations.
Cuomo’s consideration of running for mayor has been ongoing for nearly a year, with the condition that he would not run in a race that includes Mayor Eric Adams. However, with Adams facing a federal indictment, it remains unclear if Cuomo’s stance has changed.
The renewed interest in Cuomo’s political future comes at a time when more contenders are entering the mayoral race, following Adams’ legal troubles. The potential entry of Cuomo into the race adds another layer of complexity and competition among Democratic candidates vying for the mayoral seat in New York City.
