After months of foundation work, Andrew Cuomo is said to be about to compete in the New York City Mayor's competition
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned in a 2021 sexual harassment scandal, as he is preparing to announce his New York City mayoral campaign.
Cuomo is in the final stages of building a run and is expected to be officially announced this weekend, people say.
Cuomo has been largely away from the public eye since leaving the office – has been working behind the scenes for months – calling lawmakers, meeting labor leaders, and calling a stable experienced aide and campaigners, who have worked with him before, sources said.
Cuomo's long-time spokesman Rich Azzopardi declined to comment.
According to people familiar with the governor's thoughts, Cuomo is said to be consulting with his family. His three daughters are expected to meet him in the city last week as he continues to make decisions.
Two people familiar with the governor's mind warned Cuomo still decided not to compete. The public flirting with the political office and the decision to launch a high-profile last-minute is a sign of the former governor’s political career.
Time is crucial. The petition period for candidates seeking to appear in June's primary polls begins Tuesday. Candidates must collect at least 3,750 signatures from registered voters by April 3road.
Although he has moved away from traditional media interviews and appearances in recent months, Cuomo looms in the crowded field of candidates, challenging Mayor Eric Adams in the upcoming Democratic primary in New York City Adams) Challenge.
Adams was dismissed on Monday when asked about Cuomo's potential competition.
“It's early, it's the season. People come in, people walk out, things happen, things pop up. It's just the reality of this game,” Adams said during a weekly press conference at the Town Hall. “I want to focus on running the city instead of participating in the mayoral competition, which will be done on the campaign trail. ”
Although Cuomo is very silent about Adams' political annoyance, the mayor's growing scandal leads him to believe he has a real shot at attending the town hall, two people familiar with his ideas. Tell CNN.
Adams and Cuomo rely heavily on the same critical voting group – the city's union members, black voters and a coalition of moderate Democrats who focus on public safety.
Although he hasn't officially competed, Cuomo has already received a handful of spokespersons – including from once-political rival Carl McCall, the former governor Carl McCall, which Former governor, he played against Cuomo in the 2002 governor primary. This was the humiliation caused by Cuomo's political career, which had just begun.
The New York City Carpenters District Council is expected to announce that they endorse Cuomo within a few days, two people familiar with the union decision told CNN. Ritchie Torres, a Democratic Congressman who represents part of the Bronx, also said he would support Cuomo's bid for the Town Hall.
Both Cuomo and Adams are seen as moderate Democrats.
New York Mayor Eric Adams listened to reporters’ questions at a press conference on the 40th District of the New York Police Department in New York City on February 20, 2025. -Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Adams has been under tremendous pressure after city-wide lawmakers called for resignation after a Justice Department memorandum directed federal prosecutors in Manhattan to drop allegations of corruption against him. The Justice Department explicitly mentioned in the directive that Adams' cooperation with President Trump's immigration agenda was one of the reasons for his dismissal. The memorandum led to high-profile resignations by prosecutors in New York and Washington, D.C. and released a long-standing fierce attack on criticism and called for the removal of Adams from the office.
Cuomo keeps an eye on these developments, his tips along the way.
Last week, he posted a campaign-style video to X, showing him speaking in front of an audience of most black women who seemed to embrace him as they made a short speech filled with campaigns. .
“We've seen ups and downs, we've seen falls, we know how to make the city work and make this state safe for everyone, and that's exactly what we're going to do,” Cuomo said in the video.
For more CNN news and newsletters, create an account on CNN.com
