Three years ago, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo resigned following allegations of sexual harassment which were detailed and proven in a report by the NY State Attorney General Letita James – the report concluded that Cuomo had sexually harassed multiple women, created a hostile work environment, and had retaliated against one of his victims over several years. The same report also concluded that Cuomo had in fact violated state and federal laws. After the release of the report, nearly every Democratic elected official called for Cuomo to resign – and he did shortly after the report was released.
However, after leaving three years ago, could Cuomo be eyeballing a return to the New York political scene, particularly in New York City? In a report released by Politico, they believe that Cuomo could be eyeing a potential run for Mayor of New York City in the upcoming 2025 election, with the recent corruption scandal and federal indictment against incumbent Democratic Mayor Eric Adams being a major reason as to why he might be considering a candidacy.
Speaking to Politico, former advisor to the Bloomberg and Yang mayoral campaigns Chris Coffey said, “I think he’s going to run,” – going on to say “He was probably going to run no matter what, and a weakened, or out-of-the-race Eric Adams is a better bet for him.” This seems to match up, as Adams and Cuomo mostly share an identical support base in the state, with many moderates and centrists pledging their support to Adams and Cuomo in their previous election cycles.
And the evidence pointing to a potential Cuomo mayoral campaign doesn’t stop there. Over the last year, it has been reported that Cuomo has been reaching out to labor leaders and business owners in New York regarding a potential run for Mayor in the city. Although a spokesperson for Cuomo tried to put the speculation to rest saying, “He has previously said he has no plans to make plans, and that hasn’t changed,” – although this is not concrete, as spokespersons do not know 100% of everything that Cuomo could have up his sleeve, and could also be holding off on any announcement or anything reminiscent of one until they are certain that Cuomo could prove to be a viable candidate that can win an election.
And Cuomo does have a chance at winning a hypothetical election for Mayor, with his massive name recognition in the state, strong support among Democrats and centrists, and strong support from many business leaders in the state. Many on the progressive left believe that Cuomo is a poor choice of a candidate for the Democratic Party, often pointing out the scandal that resulted in his resignation as Governor. This is a major issue for Cuomo, as many do not forgive Cuomo for his actions and would likely not vote for him in an election knowing the acts he committed when he was previously in a position of political power.
However, Cuomo may not have to wait until the 2025 election to run for Mayor, as incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul is still considering whether or not to remove Adams from the office of Mayor. If Adams were to be removed from his position as Mayor, there would most likely be a special election run to fill out the remainder of Adams’ first term. Hochul has since released a statement saying, “While I review my options and obligations as the Governor of New York, I expect the Mayor to take the next few days to review the situation and find an appropriate path forward,” – which stands out from many other politicians across the state who have called for either the resignation or removal of Mayor Adams. One of these politicians is a House Representative from his own city, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York’s 14thcongressional district since 2019. In a statement posted to her social media, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said that “For the good of the city, he should resign.”
While there has been no official announcement of any Cuomo campaign or exploratory committee, the political analysts are all saying to keep your eyes peeled. If Cuomo runs, you could also likely expect to see several other candidates running in what could easily become a fierce and crowded primary field for the Democratic nomination.
