Brooklyn Rev. Conrad Tillard, an in depth ally to Adams who was a paid guide on his since-suspended reelection marketing campaign, disclosed the mayor’s needs throughout a Zoom name Tuesday with dozens of different clergy members, in keeping with a number of sources on the decision.
Conrad Tillard
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Rev. Conrad Tillard
Tillard informed contributors Adams had expressed he’d need to roll out any Cuomo endorsement in a public setting along with a contingent of religion leaders who, like Tillard, had been Adams supporters earlier than he dropped out of the race final month, the sources mentioned.
On Wednesday, Tillard confirmed the decision featured “diehard supporters of the mayor” who’d be prepared to line up with him to endorse Cuomo if he desires them to.
“Anything he wishes to do we will support,” mentioned Tillard, who was paid $30,000 to be a “clergy consultant” on Adams’ 2025 marketing campaign, information present.
Todd Shapiro, a spokesman for Adams, mentioned he didn’t have any data about Tuesday’s name. When it comes to a Cuomo endorsement from Adams, Shapiro mentioned: “He’s not there yet.”
Others on the Tuesday name included the Rev. Robert Waterman, who has publicly come out in favor of Cuomo since Adams dropped out.
Harlem Bishop Chantel Wright, who was additionally on the decision and used to assist lead reelection marketing campaign rallies for Adams, mentioned she isn’t but bought on endorsing Cuomo, arguing she wants to listen to extra from the ex-governor on what he’d do as mayor to make sure non secular leaders get continued “access” to Metropolis Corridor.
“The reason we supported Eric Adams is because he gave us access,” Wright mentioned, noting the mayor launched an workplace of faith-based and neighborhood partnerships at Metropolis Corridor. “We weren’t supporting Eric just because he’s sexy and cute, we were supporting him because of his policies.”
Mayor Adams lowers his head as Bishop Dr. Chantel R. Wright says a prayer throughout a press convention at Metropolis Corridor on June 26, 2025 in New York. (Photograph by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Pictures)
Cuomo spokesman Wealthy Azzopardi declined to remark.
Early voting within the Nov. 4 mayoral election begins Saturday, placing some urgency round any backing Adams may supply.
Earlier than he ditched his reelection bid, Adams was polling final within the mayoral race, clinching nearly 10% help amid heightened public concern about his federal corruption indictment, relationship with President Trump and surrounding controversies.
Whereas he was nonetheless a 2025 candidate, Adams was harshly important of Cuomo, accusing him of main the hassle to push him out of the race whereas calling him “a snake and a liar.”
The most recent behind-the-scenes machinations round a Cuomo endorsement comes because the ex-governor scrambles to assemble a profitable coalition forward of the election, which Democratic mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani is the favourite to win, polls have persistently projected.
Tillard, the Brooklyn pastor, mentioned Mamdani, a democratic socialist, is a nonstarter for a lot of clergy members due to his positions on intercourse work and different points.
“These are antithetical to our values,” he mentioned.
After Adams exited the race, Cuomo, who’s operating as an unbiased, made up some floor on Mamdani. Nonetheless, the ex-governor continues to path Mamdani by double digits in most polls.
Needing to develop his coalition, Cuomo has just lately put stress on Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa to tug out of the race, arguing that’d give him a greater shot at beating Mamdani as he’d have the ability to entice a few of the GOP candidate’s voters. Sliwa has been steadfast in saying he is not going to go away the race beneath any circumstance.
Adams ended his reelection bid Sept. 28 after additionally dealing with stress to step out to maximise Cuomo’s probabilities.
In an look on Polish-language RAMPA TV Wednesday morning, Adams stopped wanting endorsing Cuomo, however signaled some help for the ex-governor.
“I’m going to fight to keep socialism out of our city,” Adams mentioned, a reference to Mamdani, earlier than arguing Sliwa “doesn’t have the experience to run a city this complicated.”
That would depart Cuomo as the only real anti-Mamdani different left within the race, however when requested immediately if he’ll endorse the previous governor, Adams demurred.
“If we’re gonna get involved in this race, I will let it be known officially,” he mentioned.
Initially Revealed: October 22, 2025 at 3:24 PM EDT
