Despite the Democratic, Republican, and independent mayoral candidates rarely agreeing on anything, they are now in unison on one issue: the belief that New Yorkers want a leader other than former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, and Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee, both condemned Cuomo’s decision to stay in the race as an independent following his defeat in the Democratic primary. The pair also took the opportunity to criticize incumbent mayor Eric Adams, who has argued Cuomo’s political message has failed to resonate with New Yorkers. Cuomo’s re-entry into the race has intensified the political battle for the NYC mayor’s office, with candidates from all major parties uniting in their opposition to his candidacy.
Adams, who is running as an independent, has accused Cuomo of being a ‘double-digit loser’ in the primaries, emphasizing that the former governor lost by 12 points and failed to connect with voters. Adams pointed to the $25 million Cuomo spent on his campaign as evidence that the message failed to resonate. ‘New York has heard it. He did not sell it,’ Adams stated. The campaign for Adams also issued a press release that criticized Cuomo for his ‘political double-dealing,’ which they believe has further eroded public trust and confidence in the former governor’s leadership.
Mamdani, who is running on the Democratic ticket, has taken to the press to highlight the importance of moving past Cuomo’s politics, which he describes as a ‘socialist form of government that is hostile to business and economic growth.’ Mamdani has argued that the primary results show that New Yorkers are eager for a new approach to city governance. ‘I understand that it is difficult for the former governor to come to terms with what [Cuomo’s primary loss] meant because it is a repudiation of the politics that he has practiced that he has known for so many years, and it is that same politics that we are turning the page on.’ This statement has drawn significant attention, as Mamdani’s positions are seen as a potential threat to the future of New York City, according to Cuomo’s campaign.
Sliwa, the GOP nominee, has also weighed in, accusing both Cuomo and Adams of attempting to ‘cling to relevance’ after their primary losses. ‘Andrew Cuomo lost his primary and hides in the Hamptons. Eric Adams skipped his and fled to Fort Lauderdale. Now they’re both running as independents to cling to relevance,’ Sliwa said. Sliwa has framed himself as the only candidate with a major party nomination and a 50-year record of service, emphasizing that he is currently campaigning in New York City, while the others are playing ‘musical chairs on a sinking ship.’ Sli, the Republican contender, has made it clear that he is determined to win the election by leading and listening to the people of New York City.
In response to the mounting criticism, Cuomo’s campaign representative, Rich Azzopardi, has issued a defense of the former governor. Azzopardi has pointed to Cuomo’s performance in the primary, noting that he received 36,000 more votes than Adams had when he was mayor four years ago. Azzopardi has also emphasized that Cuomo made mistakes in the primary, including being too comfortable with poll numbers that showed he was the front-runner. The email sent to supporters by Cuomo has also been used to challenge Mamdani, with Cuomo expressing concerns about the ‘socialist’ nature of Mamdani’s platform and framing it as a threat to New York City’s economic future.
Cuomo also highlighted a proposal he has put forth, which aims to get the other candidates to consolidate behind a single, strong candidate against Mamdani in the general election. The proposal, which involves the former governor and others in the race, is seen as an attempt to avoid a potential spoiler scenario that could lead to Mamdani’s victory. Adams has rejected the idea, accusing Cuomo of using the proposal as a strategy to gain support for his campaign under the guise of uniting the opposition. ‘This proposal that was put out. It was Andrew’s proposal. He uses people to put things out that he really would like to come later and say, "OK, I endorse what an independent person is doing,"’ said Adams.