Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is speaking to shut family and friends this week as he makes ultimate preparations for the inevitable tumult that may include a run for New York Metropolis mayor as his crew eyes Sunday for an official marketing campaign launch, in keeping with sources aware of 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 severe 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 broadly anticipated to turn into deeply contentious. It’s widespread for candidates for larger workplace to make speaking with their family the ultimate step in a call course of.
In Cuomo’s case, that calculation is much more necessary, 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 participating 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 Day by 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 acquire 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 workers and fundraising connections whereas his crew has floated his identify publicly as a viable candidate. Extra just lately, 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 subject. Although 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 Photos)
However ought to he be part of the race, Cuomo wouldn’t simply face off towards Adams.
Greater than a half dozen candidates have already declared challenges towards 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 steer 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 advised reporters Tuesday when requested about Cuomo’s anticipated entry into the race.
Initially Revealed: February 26, 2025 at 10:22 AM EST
