Ex-Gov. David Paterson signaled he desires to let bygones be bygones Wednesday as he endorsed his successor, Andrew Cuomo, to grow to be New York Metropolis mayor after years of simmering tensions between the 2 males.
Paterson, who endorsed Cuomo together with Manhattan Democratic Celebration boss Keith Wright at a morning press convention in Harlem, acknowledged he was initially a bit reluctant to throw his political weight behind his fellow ex-governor.
“When Andrew asked me for my support, I didn’t do it right away,” he instructed reporters at Amy Ruth’s, a soul meals restaurant in Harlem. “But as the campaigns developed, I see him as the best person to lead the city.”
Paterson stepped down as governor in 2010 after Cuomo, then New York’s legal professional basic, launched an investigation into allegations that he helped cowl up home violence accusations towards a staffer. Cuomo — who succeeded Paterson as governor after profitable the November 2010 election — additionally investigated Paterson over allegations he lied about his workplace’s solicitation of Yankees World Collection Tickets.
Cuomo was broadly faulted on the time for contributing to the political downfall of Paterson, the state’s first Black governor, who finally by no means confronted fees for the alleged wrongdoing. As just lately as 2021, Paterson stated he “was always pretty leery” of Cuomo.
Cuomo, who himself resigned as governor in 2021 amid accusations he sexually harassed almost a dozen girls and mismanaged nursing dwelling insurance policies throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, stated it was “heartwarming” to get endorsed by Paterson and Wright, noting they used to work together with his father, the late ex-Gov. Mario Cuomo.
“For them to step up and support me — forget the political impact — it just means a lot to me personally,” he stated.
Cuomo continues to ballot as the favourite to win the June 24 Democratic mayoral major.
When requested whether or not it’s vexing him that Cuomo has reemerged as a critical political contender regardless of resigning himself amid a scandal, Paterson replied, “I’m just glad you all acknowledge how absurd it was to bother me about the Yankee tickets.”
Initially Revealed: June 11, 2025 at 1:15 PM EDT
