Ahead of Tuesday’s Democratic Party primary for mayor in heavily blue New York City, frontrunner Andrew Cuomo has received another high-profile endorsement from former President Bill Clinton, adding to his already strong fundraising capabilities. The endorsement comes at a crucial time as Cuomo faces a tightening race against progressive challenger Zohran Mamdani. Cuomo, who resigned in 2021 during his third term as New York State governor amid multiple scandals, is seeking a campaign comeback and political redemption. His campaign is countering accusations of inexperience by highlighting his state-level governance and crisis management abilities.
Cuomo, who served as Housing and Urban Development (HUD) secretary during the Clinton administration, has been endorsed by Clinton in a statement emphasizing his past performance. “As President, I chose Andrew to be my Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and he never let me down—but more importantly, he didn’t let the nation down. He built public housing all across the country,” Clinton said. The endorsement, along with backing from billionaire former mayor Michael Bloomberg, is seen as a significant boost for Cuomo’s campaign amid a narrowing lead in the polls.
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist state assemblyman from Queens, has received endorsements from prominent progressive figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, which have helped consolidate progressive support behind him. The Democratic mayoral primary, conducted using a ranked-choice voting system, is set to take place on Tuesday. The winner of the primary is traditionally seen as the overwhelming frontrunner in the November general election in the Democrat-dominated city.
While the primary is not until Tuesday, more than 384,000 Democrats have already cast ballots in early voting, which ended on Sunday. The outcome of the primary is expected to heavily influence the general election, where incumbent mayor Eric Adams faces an uphill battle as his approval ratings continue to decline. Adams, who was recently indicted on five counts, is running for re-election as an Independent. The mayor’s poll numbers have sunk to historic lows, and he has made repeated overtures to President Donald Trump, aiming to work with the Trump administration on its illegal immigration crackdown. The Justice Department earlier this year dismissed the corruption charges against Adams, allowing him to potentially collaborate with the Trump administration on immigration issues.
As the primary race intensifies, the endorsements from Clinton and Bloomberg are seen as significant for Cuomo’s campaign, which has been working to clear his name after 11 sexual harassment allegations that led to his resignation. The former governor is also facing a criminal investigation by the Justice Department over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and potential lies to Congress. Despite these challenges, Cuomo remains a formidable candidate in the race, with the outcomes of the primary expected to heavily shape the November general election.