Former Governor Andrew Cuomo has now reportedly officially entered the New York City mayoral contest as an independent but pledged to step aside if he cannot vie successfully against Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, whom he lost to in the June primary.
In a statement released Monday, Mr. Cuomo said he would continue his campaign “until September” while monitoring who among the anti-Mamdani contenders is most competitive.
He declared, “Whoever the strongest candidate is, that person should go forward. If it’s me, fine. If it’s not me, I will defer.”
Mr. Cuomo credited former Governor David Paterson for proposing the idea of a coordinated withdrawal pact.
“Governor Paterson put forth a very good idea with [independent candidate] Mr. Walden,” Cuomo said, referring to another candidate in the field. “We get to September, who’s the strongest candidate, and the other candidates defer and don’t compete… because it’s about stopping Mr. Mamdani.”
Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old state assemblyman who pulled off a surprise victory in the Democratic primary, leads the race with approximately 40 percent support in recent polling.
Cuomo trails at 24 percent, while Mayor Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa each poll in the low teens.
Mamdani has branded himself as the champion of working-class New Yorkers, calling out “slick slogans” from opponents and urging voters to coalesce around his progressive platform.
Mr. Paterson, once a close ally to Cuomo, has taken on a central role in urging unity.
He confessed to receiving “vitriolic” backlash after advocating that candidates like Jim Walden and Mr. Cuomo exit the race in favor of a single moderate alternative.
Mayor Adams, also running independently, criticized Cuomo’s strategy as a “self-serving” diversion that threatens to fragment opposition to Mamdani.
In public remarks during a Queens event, Mr. Adams demanded, “Are you kidding me?” when asked about Mr. Cuomo’s plan to stay in the race.
Analysts warn the three‑way anti‑Mamdani field could inadvertently ensure Mamdani’s path to victory by splitting the moderate vote.
The general election, slated for November, pits Mamdani, Adams, Cuomo, Sliwa, and Jim Walden in a dynamic and unpredictable battle.
Mr. Cuomo’s decision caps a tumultuous political comeback. He previously resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, which he has denied, and his recent primary loss underscored lingering questions about his political viability.
In his announcement, he cast his run as a pragmatic effort to save the city. “It’s about putting forward the strongest candidate because the fight to save our city isn’t over,” he said, echoing his enduring concern over public safety and housing affordability.
Still, his conditional pledge raises questions about future maneuvering. If a coordinated withdrawal does not materialize, Mr. Cuomo’s continued presence could reshape the dynamics of a race that may pivot on whether moderate voters can unite — or remain fractured.
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