Andrew Cuomo concedes election to run for NYC mayor towards Democratic socialist
Andrew Cuomo conceded the Democrat Primary election for New York City mayor to 33-year-old socialist Zohran Mamdani in a shock flop for the ex-governor’s $25 million campaign.
While the city’s ranked choice voting system means there will be no declared winner until next week, Cuomo currently trails Mamdani by seven points on the first round of voting.
Cuomo, in a speech to supporters, said Mamdani ‘won’ and that ‘we are going to take a look and make some decisions. Tonight is his night,’ Cuomo said.
Mamdani — a firebrand lefty who has won the backing of progressives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders — says he wants to tax the wealthy and dole out free childcare and bus rides and cheaper groceries and rents.
He would be the city´s first Muslim and Indian American mayor if elected. Cuomo is trying to make a comeback from a sexual harassment scandal.
Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams skipped the primary. He´s running as an independent against the Democrat nominee and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.
In a statement to DailyMail.com, Sliwa painted Mamdani as dangerous for the future of New York
‘Zohran Mamdani is too extreme for a city already on edge. This race is not over. I’m not part of the political class. I’ve spent my life fighting for New Yorkers in every borough. I’m running to be the People’s Mayor because I’m the only one who can make this city safe and affordable for those who feel one paycheck away from being pushed out. I’m ready to be your next Mayor to move this forward for us.’
Andrew Cuomo (pictured) conceded the Democrat Primary election for New York City mayor to 33-year-old Muslim socialist Zohran Mamdani in a shock flop for the ex-governor’s $25 million campaign
While the city’s ranked choice voting system means there will be no declared winner until next week, Cuomo currently trails Mamdani (pictured) by seven points on the first round of voting
The race´s ultimate outcome could say something about what kind of leader Democrats are looking for during President Donald Trump´s second term.
The vote takes place about four years after Cuomo, 67, resigned as governor following a sexual harassment scandal.
Yet he has been the favorite throughout the race, with his deep experience, name recognition, strong political connections and juggernaut fundraising apparatus.
The party´s progressive wing, meanwhile, had coalesced behind Mamdani.
A relatively unknown state legislator when the contest began, Mamdani gained momentum by running a sharp campaign laser-focused on the city´s high cost of living and secured endorsements from two of the country´s foremost progressives, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
The primary winner will go on to face incumbent Adams, a Democrat who decided to run as an independent amid a public uproar over his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent abandonment of the case by Trump´s Justice Department.
Republican Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, will be on the ballot in the fall´s general election.
There is also a possibility that Cuomo runs on the November ballot as an independent candidate if he loses the primary but the former governor made no promises in a statement.
Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa (pictured) painted Mamdani as an extremist who would take the city over the edge
Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams (pictured) skipped the primary. He´s running as an independent
‘I called Assemblyman Mamdani to congratulate him on tonight’s victory. I also thank my team, which did a great job during this campaign. I want to look at all the numbers as they come in and analyze the rank choice voting. I will then consult with my colleagues on what is the best path for me to help the City of New York, as I have already qualified to run for mayor on an independent line in November.’
The mayoral primary´s two leading candidates – one a fresh-faced progressive and the other an older moderate – could be stand-ins for the larger Democratic Party´s ideological divide, though Cuomo´s scandal-scarred past adds a unique tinge to the narrative.
The rest of the pack has struggled to gain recognition in a race where nearly every candidate has cast themselves as the person best positioned to challenge Trump’s agenda.
Comptroller Brad Lander, a liberal city government stalwart, made a splash last week when he was arrested after linking arms with a man federal agents were trying to detain at an immigration court in Manhattan. It was unclear if that episode was enough to jump-start a campaign that had been failing to pick up speed behind Lander.
Among the other candidates are City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams , state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, hedge fund executive Whitney Tilson and former city Comptroller Scott Stringer.
This is a developing story.
