After supporting Andrew Cuomo’s failed marketing campaign in June’s Democratic mayoral major, ex-Gov. David Paterson endorsed Eric Adams’ unbiased bid for reelection Wednesday, praising the incumbent as “courageous and outspoken.”
“There have been some pitfalls, there have been some times when perhaps he would have done things a little differently, but the mark of an individual who really deserves the position that he wants to continue after Election Day this fall is that they recognize that and that they’re able to make the necessary changes,” Paterson stated, a reference to the authorized and moral controversies which have hung over Adams’ first time period.
Nonetheless, Paterson wouldn’t name on Cuomo — who’s additionally operating as an unbiased in November’s mayoral election — to drop out of the race.
“I am not suggesting that a person that has raised a lot of money, has put his blood, sweat and tears into the race and wants to continue the race — I could not look that person in the eye and tell them to get out,” Paterson, showing alongside Adams at Metropolis Corridor, stated when requested if Cuomo ought to step out of the race.
Paterson held a press convention final month to induce New York’s enterprise and civic communities to coalesce behind one candidate with a view to optimize the probabilities of beating Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, the favourite to win November’s contest.
Cuomo spokesman Wealthy Azzopardi declined to remark.
The largest impediment anti-Mamdani forces face is that Adams and Cuomo are prone to cut up the extra reasonable Democratic vote, probably benefiting Mamdani, whose massive progressive base carried him to victory within the major.
Along with Cuomo, Adams and Mamdani, Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa and unbiased Jim Walden are additionally on November’s poll.
Most polls of November’s mayoral election are predicting Cuomo has the very best shot at beating Mamdani. Adams, who’s struggling traditionally low approval scores as he continues to face political fallout from his corruption indictment, has positioned fourth in a number of polls, behind Sliwa.
Nonetheless, Paterson, who served as governor between 2008 and 2010, argued Adams is greatest suited to problem Mamdani due to his “scorecard.”
“You can keep a scorecard on what he gets done and what he hasn’t gotten done, and the score card is incredible,” he stated.
Initially Printed: August 13, 2025 at 12:33 PM EDT
