Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is speaking to shut family and friends this week as he makes closing preparations for the inevitable tumult that may come if he runs for New York Metropolis mayor as his workforce eyes Sunday for an official marketing campaign launch, in accordance with sources conversant in the matter.
The sources, who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate the delicate matter, cautioned that Sunday isn’t set in stone but for a Cuomo marketing campaign announcement. They did say it has been checked out as a critical possibility, although, because the 2025 mayoral race is already in full swing.
Cuomo has spent months laying the groundwork for a mayoral run.
He’s checking their temperature to verify they stand by a possible determination for him to mount a run because the race is extensively anticipated to turn into deeply contentious. It’s widespread for candidates for increased workplace to make speaking with their family members the ultimate step in a choice course of.
In Cuomo’s case, that calculation is much more essential, the sources stated, as he sits on political baggage, together with resigning as governor in 2021 after being accused of sexually harassing greater than a dozen girls and undercounting COVID-19 deaths in New York. Cuomo has denied ever partaking in any wrongdoing, however stated upon his resignation that he needed to “deeply apologize” for anybody he made really feel uncomfortable.
Mayor Eric Adams. (Barry Williams / New York Every day Information)
Wealthy Azzopardi declined to remark Wednesday on Cuomo’s personal conversations or the timing of his potential marketing campaign announcement.
Petitioning for June’s Democratic mayoral major began Tuesday. Like all different candidates within the race, Cuomo might want to accumulate hundreds of signatures from registered metropolis voters by April 3 in an effort to qualify for the June 24 mayoral major poll.
Since final yr, Cuomo has ready for a possible run, lining up marketing campaign employees and fundraising connections whereas his workforce has floated his identify publicly as a viable candidate. Extra not too long ago, the preparations have turn into extra tangible as Politico reported this week he has secured an endorsement from a serious New York labor union even earlier than saying a run.
Cuomo’s entry would dramatically change the dynamic of the already crowded major area. Regardless that he has but to launch a marketing campaign, polls have constantly projected that Cuomo is the front-runner within the race as Adams faces all-time low approval scores amid fallout from his federal corruption indictment and criticism over his relationship with President Trump.
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Pictures)
However ought to he be a part of the race, Cuomo wouldn’t simply face off in opposition to Adams.
Greater than a half dozen candidates have already declared challenges in opposition to Adams, together with Comptroller Brad Lander, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, Queens state Sen. Jessica Ramos, former Bronx Assemblyman Michael Blake and businessman Whitney Tilson. There are additionally conversations underway about Council Speaker Adrienne Adams becoming a member of the race.
A number of of the already declared candidates have spent months criticizing Adams as unfit to guide the town. However amid the growing Cuomo buzz, they’ve additionally made clear they’re ready to show their consideration to the ex-gov.
“I don’t believe that New Yorkers want to trade one corrupt chaos agent for another,” Lander instructed reporters Tuesday when requested about Cuomo’s anticipated entry into the race.
Initially Printed: February 26, 2025 at 10:22 AM EST
