Andrew Cuomo Wants a Bite of the Big Apple – But Do Voters Want Him?

There are more than a dozen people either actively running for mayor of New York City in 2025 or at least considering it – but arguably only two of those names matter. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams is running for re-election, though he hasn’t done much in the way of campaigning yet. His reputation has taken a hit over recent legal troubles and the appearance that he can’t or won’t stand up to President Donald Trump. Despite the various obstacles, however, Adams hasn’t faced much in the way of real competition – until now. Enter former Empire State Governor Andrew Cuomo. He may have resigned in disgrace three years ago, but now he’s back – and he has his eye on the Big Apple.

Cuomo’s line of attack is that he’ll stand up to Trump – something he certainly did during the president’s first term in office – and that he’ll build up the police force and get the homeless the help they need. In short, the former governor suggests Adams has made a mess of things and that he is the man to clean it up. But will New Yorkers buy the version of Cuomo he’s trying to present, or will they recall the guy who enacted COVID-19 policies that led to nursing home deaths in the thousands and then failed to report about half of them? Or how about the governor accused of sexual harassment or assault by more than a dozen women and who was almost impeached for it before he resigned?

Cuomo Campaign Takes Off

Andrew Cuomo officially entered the race on Saturday, and his campaign kicked into high gear on Sunday. Even before announcing, however, the former governor had won the support of some of the labor unions and was polling ahead of Adams or any of the other candidates. He has his baggage, to be sure, and everywhere he went campaigning over the weekend, protesters followed. But he also has a significant list of achievements to present and a primary opponent who may actually have him beat in the scandal department - because of Trump Derangement Syndrome, if for no other reason. Adams praised Trump on illegal immigration and decided to go along with the new hardline approach.

Cuomo allegedly subjected at least 13 female employees to a “sexually hostile work environment” as governor, according to the Department of Justice. New York Attorney General Letitia James determined that he had sexually harassed at least 11 women, and even Joe Biden – fellow Democrat and president at the time – suggested he resign. At least one woman accused him of assault, though he was never charged, and by the time he finally did resign in August 2021, it was clear the state legislature was on the path to impeaching him.

Then there’s the COVID-19 nursing home deaths. The Cuomo administration revealed in the summer of 2021 that the true number of nursing home residents who died under his watch – and, in some cases, because of his policy prohibiting facilities from refusing to accept people back from hospitals who were COVID-positive – was 12,743. The NY AG’s office explained at the time that this was 50% higher than any loss of life previously acknowledged by the administration.

Eric Adams has his own issues. The Big Apple’s current mayor was indicted on federal bribery charges last year. Things only got worse for Adams politically when, earlier this year, Trump’s DOJ instructed prosecutors to drop the case so that Adams could assist in the immigration crackdowns. Now, not only is Eric Adams seen as anti-immigrant, but he’s also considered by many to be too beholden to Trump. A double whammy of bad PR for the mayor of a city as anti-Trump as New York.

And therein, perhaps, lies the core issue around which this whole election turns: Do New Yorkers want a mayor who will work with the president rather than obstruct his work, or one who will stand up to him rather than cave under the pressure? If voters prefer the latter, it may just be enough to propel Cuomo beyond his scandalous past and into the mayor’s office.