On Saturday, March 1st, Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his campaign for New York City Mayor. His campaign announcement follows months of speculation with several polls showing him in the lead for the mayoral race ahead of current Mayor Eric Adams.
Cuomo, a native New Yorker, served as the New York State Attorney General from 2007 to 2010 before running for governor and serving that position from January 2011 to August 2021. He holds degrees from both Fordham University and Albany Law School.
Cuomo cites his father, the Late Governor Mario Cuomo, for instilling the “importance of fighting for equality and opportunity” in him. He notably led his father’s successful campaign for governor as his campaign manager.
In a 17-minute long video posted on YouTube announcing his candidacy, Cuomo said, “Today it is necessary to launch a bold action plan to turn New York City around to save our city.” His video laid out his plan for the city, including actions he plans to take on issues including housing affordability, public safety, the mental health and homelessness crisis, subway safety, and the migrant crisis.
He continued, “My philosophy as an elected official is simple. I work for you, not the politicians, and not the special interests. I work as hard as you do. 24/7. I know what needs to be done and how to do it. Leading New York City in the midst of a crisis is not the time or the place for on the job training.”
While Cuomo did not address the allegations that ultimately led to him stepping down as New York Governor, in his announcement video, Cuomo said, “Did I always do everything right in my years of government service? Of course not. Would I do some things differently knowing what I know now? Certainly. Did I make mistakes? Some painfully. Definitely. And I believe I learned from them and that I am a better person for it. And I hope to show you everyday. But I promise you this, I know what needs to be done and I know how to do it. And I will give it my all to get the job done.”
New York City’s primary elections will be held on June 24th, with the general election taking place on November 4th. There are already several candidates running against incumbent Mayor Adams, including Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Scott Stringer, and now Cuomo. Many polls show high levels of support for Cuomo, leading many to believe Adams may be in hot water due to low approval ratings and the recent indictment.
Cuomo said, “Our founding fathers expressed their vision for America in three words – E Pluribus Unum. Out of many, one. We say it in three words. New York City.”
