He’s won endorsements from the likes of U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres and former state comptroller H. Carl McCall. He’s leading every poll of mayoral contenders. And without even being in the room, he’s driving most of the buzz at candidate forums.
The time has come for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, frontrunner for New York City mayor, to stake out where he stands on issues from affordable housing to congestion pricing to public safety, and to answer tough questions from reporters and fellow Democratic candidates. He also must show how the city, under his leadership, would respond to a second Trump administration that in its early months has clawed back $80 million for migrant housing, moved to halt congestion pricing, and enlisted Mayor Eric Adams’ cooperation to circumvent New York’s “sanctuary city” law as part of a deportation crackdown.
At press time, Cuomo, who has been plotting a political comeback since he resigned as governor in 2021 after a sexual-harassment scandal, is expected to enter the race imminently. Suffice it to say his late entrance, forceful personality and commanding lead in early polling – he’s up 25 points overall and 40 points in a ranked-choice simulation by Honan Strategy Group – are likely to put a giant target on his back in the runup to the June primary.
Cuomo will face questions about where he lives (he only recently registered to vote at an address in Midtown East) and the comments he’s made in recent years distancing himself from some of his own policies, including congestion pricing. His opponents also will try to puncture a sense of nostalgia surrounding Cuomo with reminders of why he left office: state and federal probes found that he sexually harassed more than a dozen state employees.
The former governor is not exactly a favorite of business – plenty of real estate players, for instance, are no fans of his support for rent reforms in 2019 – but he’s considered more palatable than most of the progressive alternatives who are challenging Adams, who historically has enjoyed robust business support. But polling shows Adams, who insists he is staying in the race, is in real trouble, and some business leaders privately worry that anti-Trump sentiment could drive liberal primary voters into the arms of a more progressive alternative.
The field of contenders challenging Adams for mayor includes comptroller Brad Lander, state senators Jessica Ramos and Zellnor Myrie, and former comptroller Scott Stringer, and may continue to grow as City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams also considers a late bid.
It’s possible Cuomo will emerge as the best candidate to lead the city and manage a tricky relationship with President Trump. But first he must make his case, articulating a clear plan for tackling thorny challenges from affordable housing to quality of life and prove to voters that he views the office of mayor as more than a political lifeline.
