Andrew Cuomo, the previous governor of New York and arguably one of many greatest names in state politics, has formally entered New York Metropolis’s race for mayor.
The transfer by the 56th governor of New York has been long-anticipated as many political insiders thought-about it solely a matter of time earlier than Cuomo threw his hat within the ring.
Cuomo made his candidacy official on Saturday, asserting his candidacy in a 17-minute video uploaded to his marketing campaign web site. In that video, Cuomo pitches his return as a method to pull town from social and political turmoil, highlighting average positions on crime and his lengthy historical past of political accomplishments.
“Our metropolis is in disaster,” Cuomo stated on X. “That’s why I’m operating to be Mayor of New York Metropolis.”
NBC New York beforehand reported that the previous governor and his associates had been discussing their technique for presumably getting into the mayor’s race with a number of sources, together with Reverend Al Sharpton.
Polling courting again a number of months discovered that Cuomo might enter the 2025 mayoral race as a frontrunner, regardless of the scandals that brought about him to resign — with cash to spend and New York identify recognition courting again to his father Mario Cuomo’s three-term reign as governor.
Cuomo resigned from workplace in August 2021, amid sexual harassment allegations, which he staunchly denies. Hochul, a fellow Democrat who had been Cuomo’s lieutenant, inherited the job and was reelected the next yr.
Moreover the present mayor, Eric Adams, Cuomo races loads of opposition within the Democratic major. These different candidates embody Comptroller Brad Lander, state Senator Jessica Ramos, former metropolis Comptroller Scott Stringer, state Senator Zellnor Myrie, and Meeting Member Zohran Mamdani, amongst others.
Regardless of getting into the race behind a big pack of Democratic rivals and with lower than 4 months to go till the first, Cuomo has loomed giant over the race for a while. His identify wasn’t solely mentioned in secret or amongst political circles.
Days earlier than formally launching his marketing campaign, Cuomo obtained a surprisingly public endorsement from Congressman Ritchie Torres, a Democrat from the Bronx. Torres instructed the New York Publish he thinks town wants “a Mr. Robust Man.”
At a candidates discussion board held by District Council 37 earlier this week, many on the stage took photographs at Cuomo, in addition to Adams who was additionally not in attendance.
“In contrast to Mayor Adams, who raised your hire, or Governor Cuomo, who put you in Tier 6, I’ve the heart to ask to your endorsement in particular person,” Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani stated, based on HellGate.
DOJ investigation into sexual harassment
In January of 2024, the Division of Justice discovered that the previous governor subjected no less than 13 girls to a “sexually hostile work atmosphere” whereas in workplace.
Cuomo “repeatedly subjected these feminine staff to unwelcome, non-consensual sexual contact; ogling; unwelcome sexual feedback; gender-based nicknames; feedback on their bodily appearances; and/or preferential therapy primarily based on their bodily appearances,” the DOJ stated it discovered.
Cuomo’s workplace as an alternative labored to guard the then-governor from additional accusations — and his senior workers retaliated towards 4 of the ladies he harassed, the DOJ stated.
Cuomo lawyer Rita Glavin in an announcement to CNBC stated the previous governor “didn’t sexually harass anybody.”
“The DOJ ‘investigation’ was primarily based fully on the NYS Legal professional Basic’s deeply flawed, inaccurate, biased, and deceptive report,” Glavin stated.
COVID nursing dwelling response
The Cuomo administration got here below important scrutiny for a coverage that initially required nursing properties to readmit recovering COVID-19 sufferers in an effort to keep away from hospitals from turning into overwhelmed.
Cuomo got here below fire on the topic at a Sept. 2024 listening to earlier than a U.S. Home panel.
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York referred to as the directive “lethal.” Rep. Brad Wenstrup, the Ohio Republican who chairs the subcommittee, stated it was inconsistent with federal steerage and its penalties had been “harmful and disastrous.” Republicans accused Cuomo of staging a cover-up to cover errors that endangered nursing dwelling residents.
In an announcement, Cuomo spokesperson Wealthy Azzopardi referred to as the subcommittee’s actions “a taxpayer-funded farce.”
“It is a joke – the Governor stated he didn’t recall as a result of he didn’t recall. The committee lied of their referral simply as they’ve been mendacity to the general public and the press,” Azzopardi stated.
There have been about 15,000 COVID-19 deaths amongst long-term care residents in New York, way over the preliminary quantity disclosed. Cuomo stated some figures had been initially withheld out of issues about accuracy.
Cuomo was extensively seen as a reassuring determine within the early months of the pandemic, however his status suffered after revelations that his administration launched an incomplete accounting of the variety of deaths at nursing properties and assisted residing amenities.
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was within the sizzling seat on Tuesday, as he testified earlier than a congressional subcommittee about how he dealt with the unfold of COVID-19 in nursing properties in the course of the peak of the pandemic. NBC New York’s Chris Glorioso studies.
