In a fierce political battle, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and current Mayor Eric Adams have turned their attention toward each other in a series of recent interviews, both aiming to position themselves as the most viable alternative to Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani, who has been endorsed by the Democratic Party, is a far-left candidate known for his progressive policies, which have drawn criticism from moderate and conservative voters. Adams and Cuomo, both running as independent candidates, are seeking to attract voters who are not aligned with Mamdani’s platform.
Cuomo, during a breakfast event in the Hamptons hosted by businessman John Catsimatidis, took a veiled jab at Adams, suggesting that New York City has not had a ‘competent’ mayor since Michael Bloomberg left office in 2013. He further claimed that the city currently feels ‘out of control.’ Although his campaign insisted this was a joke, the remark served to highlight the stakes in the upcoming election and the perceived risk of electing Mamdani, whom Cuomo’s team described as having ‘unrealistic bumper sticker slogans.’
Adams, meanwhile, took a more direct approach in his criticisms of Cuomo, emphasizing his own record in addressing issues like bail reform, cannabis law, and the raising of the age for automatic adult prosecution. He argued that his experience has been necessary to fix the mess that Cuomo allegedly created. Adams also criticized Mamdani’s policy proposals, including the plan to reduce the population of Rikers Island and to have social workers respond to domestic violence calls rather than police. He cited the tragic incident of NYPD Officers Wilbert Mora and Jason Rivera, who were shot and killed in 2022 during a domestic violence call, as a reason to oppose Mamdani’s approach.
Mamdani, who secured the Democratic nomination last month, has faced significant backlash for his positions on issues such as the role of the state in private property and his comments that have been interpreted as anti-Israel. These views have led to concerns within the Democratic Party, with some calling them a ‘five-alarm warning’ for the party’s cohesion. Meanwhile, the race remains a contest between two Democrats-turned-independents, Adams and Cuomo, and the Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa, who is also vying for the mayoral position.