Disgraced ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Independent run for NYC Mayor after a brutal primary loss is throwing Democrats into chaos and threatening to upend the election.
Andrew Cuomo thought he could waltz back into New York politics.
The disgraced former governor is discovering that comeback tours aren’t always welcome.
And Andrew Cuomo refuses to back down despite one brutal fact that has Democrats panicking.
Cuomo plots Independent run after primary shellacking
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo suffered a devastating blow in the Democrat primary for New York City Mayor when he lost to radical socialist State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.
But the man who was forced to resign in disgrace over sexual harassment allegations isn’t ready to slink away quietly.
CNN reports that Cuomo has decided to stay on the ballot for the general election on an Independent "Fight & Deliver" line, setting up a multi-candidate race that could hand the mayor’s office to Republicans.
The move has Democrats scrambling to figure out how to stop their former party leader from potentially destroying their chances in America’s largest city.
Cuomo’s decision to run as an Independent shows just how desperate he is to return to power after his political career imploded in 2021.
The former governor was forced to resign after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment and a state investigation found he had violated federal and state laws.
His comeback attempt in the mayor’s race was supposed to be his redemption story.
Instead, it’s turning into a nightmare for Democrats who now face a fractured party heading into the general election.
Key unions abandon Cuomo for winner
The cracks in Cuomo’s coalition became evident immediately after his primary loss.
Two major unions that had backed Cuomo in the primary–the service workers’ union 32BJ SEIU and the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council–quickly jumped ship to endorse Mamdani for the general election on Friday.
The union defections show that even Cuomo’s most reliable supporters recognize his campaign is dead in the water.
Labor unions are typically loyal to candidates who have supported their causes, but their willingness to back the radical socialist Mamdani, shows just how corrupted the Big Labor has become.
But Cuomo’s Independent run threatens to split the Democrat vote and potentially hand victory to incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an Independent himself, or Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Hochul delivers ice-cold snub to party nominee
Even more damaging for Democrats is Governor Kathy Hochul’s lukewarm response to Mamdani’s primary victory.
Hochul, who took over when Cuomo resigned, released what observers described as a carefully-worded statement following Mamdani’s win.
The governor said she looked forward to "speaking with him in the days ahead about his ideas" but stopped short of endorsing the party’s nominee.
Hochul’s refusal to immediately back Mamdani shows the deep divisions within the New York Democrat Party.
Her hesitation to embrace the nominee suggests she may be keeping her options open, possibly hoping for a different outcome in the general election.
At a news conference Thursday, when pressed about whether she would support Mamdani, Hochul replied "Obviously, there’s areas of difference in our positions, but I also think we need to have those conversations, but in the meantime, I truly am not focused on the politics."
Her lukewarm response has left Democrats without unified leadership at a critical moment.
While she left the door open to future discussions with Mamdani, her initial reluctance to embrace him sends a clear message that the party establishment isn’t thrilled with their nominee.
Republicans eye shocking alliance with Adams
On the Republican side, an unlikely scenario is emerging that could reshape the entire race.
Some Republicans are reportedly seeking to unite their party behind incumbent Mayor Eric Adams as the best choice to defeat Mamdani.
The plan would require complicated electoral gymnastics, including getting 2021 GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa to abandon the Republican line.
Sources suggest Sliwa might be offered a position in the Trump administration in exchange for stepping aside.
But Sliwa has adamantly said he has no plans to drop out, throwing a wrench into any potential Republican-Adams alliance.
The fact that Republicans are even considering backing a Democrat shows how much they want to prevent Mamdani from winning.
Adams, despite his unpopularity and ongoing federal corruption investigation, may be seen as the lesser of two evils by conservative voters.
Meanwhile, the New York Post has called for Cuomo to drop out in favor of Adams, further complicating the political landscape.
Polling reveals Cuomo’s devastating impact
The numbers tell the story of just how destructive Cuomo’s Independent run could be for Democrats.
Polling referenced in the original briefing shows Mamdani leading Adams 46-31 in a head-to-head matchup.
But when Cuomo is added to the mix, the dynamics completely change.
In a three-way race, Cuomo actually leads Mamdani 44-40, with Adams presumably drawing votes from both candidates.
The polling reveals that Cuomo still has enough support to seriously damage Democrat chances, even if he can’t win himself.
His candidacy threatens to split the left-wing vote between himself and Mamdani, potentially allowing Adams or Republican Curtis Sliwa to sneak through with a plurality.
The scenario is a Democrat nightmare–their disgraced former governor could hand New York City to their opponents out of pure spite and ego.
Cuomo’s refusal to accept his primary defeat and unite behind the party nominee shows he’s more interested in personal revenge than party success.
Democrats are learning that sometimes the most dangerous enemies come from within their own ranks.
