Cuomo Won’t Rule Out Another Run If He Loses NYC Mayoral Bid
Former governor signals openness to future campaigns as polls show him trailing in a crowded New York City mayoral field
Andrew Cuomo signaled that he would not rule out another run for public office if he loses the NYC mayoral race, telling the New York Times that he does not intend on losing. With roughly 40 days remaining before the election, Cuomo’s remarks come as his independent bid has failed to gain momentum in a race dominated by other candidates. The dialogue underscores Cuomo’s still-fractured path back into public life after his resignation as governor in 2021 and amid a field that includes young challenger Zohran Mamdani and veteran Curtis Sliwa.
A recent Fox News poll highlighted the uphill climb Cuomo faces. The survey shows the ex-governor at about 29% of the vote, nearly 20 points behind Mamdani, who sits at 47%. Sliwa also remains in the mix, though the poll underscores the uphill battle for Cuomo’s bid as a nonpartisan or independent candidate in a race that has catalyzed a broader shift in New York City politics. Cuomo acknowledged the poll while downplaying the idea that his candidacy was predetermined to fail, and he pushed back on the notion that this would be his final act in public life. “No, not necessarily,” he told the Times when pressed on whether this would be his last bid, adding, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I don’t intend on losing.”
Cuomo’s comments about his political future come with the added context that his campaign has faced longstanding questions about how a former governor, who left office amid scandal, plans to reenter the political arena. The Times interview also shed light on his relationship with the campaign apparatus surrounding the incumbent mayor, Eric Adams, who has mounted a long-shot bid for re-election. Cuomo said he has barely spoken with Adams in recent weeks, and he noted that his conversations with Adams’ inner circle have been infrequent. He did reveal, however, that he spoke with Frank Carone, Adams’ top adviser and a central figure in the mayor’s campaign, “several weeks ago.” Carone is widely seen as a key architect of Adams’ political operation, even as Adams’ own pace and voice in the race have remained muted at times.
The dynamic described by Cuomo reflects a broader, unsettled contest for control of New York City’s political center-right and progressive bases. Mamdani, a Queens assemblyman and a figure associated with the Democratic Socialists of America, has surged as the race’s standout underdog in the eyes of many observers, leveraging youth and reform-oriented messaging to erode traditional established advantages. The outcome of the campaign has implications beyond the mayor’s office, touching on how New York City voters are weighing governance priorities, from housing and public health to public safety and economic recovery as the city aims to rebound from the pandemic era.
Cuomo’s remarks also come in the wake of the Democratic primary upset that briefly upended expectations in the race. Mamdani’s victory in the primary highlighted a significant shift within the party’s local base, challenging the stature of a former governor trying to reinsert himself into electoral life after resignation. The encounter has set a tone of volatility for a field that includes Sliwa, a founder and candidate who has long been a familiar presence in New York politics, as well as several other contenders who have sought to position themselves as alternatives to the conventional Democratic establishment.
The statewide and local political climate in New York has increasingly featured candidates who blur traditional partisan lines, particularly in New York City where candidates have been testing independent and third-party pathways to the mayoralty. The race has drawn attention not only to the candidates’ platforms but also to how much they are willing to engage with one another’s teams and advisers. Cuomo’s willingness to discuss future options, his references to past contacts, and the evolving relationship with Adams’ camp illuminate the complexities of back-channel negotiations and potential post-election alignments that could shape the city’s governance in the months and years ahead. While Adams remains the incumbent, Cuomo’s comments suggest that the door to future campaigns could remain ajar, should political tides shift and a new configuration of support emerge.
In summary, the NYC mayoral race remains unsettled as candidates jockey for momentum in a city eager for leadership amid ongoing recovery efforts. Cuomo’s indication that he does not intend to rule out future campaigns adds a political wrinkle to a contest already characterized by a volatile blend of reform-minded insurgency and established political figures. The impact of the Fox News poll, the appetite for a nontraditional candidate like Mamdani, and the intricate web of advisers surrounding Adams will continue to shape discussions about what comes next in New York politics.