Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is set to defy dismal polling numbers and officially launch his independent bid for mayor this week — while calling on all other candidates, except socialist Democrat Zohran Mamdani, to agree to drop out by mid-September if they are not in the lead.
The bold move, first reported by NewsNation, comes as the latest poll from Slingshot Strategies shows Cuomo trailing Mamdani by 10 points, with the former governor polling at 25% to Mamdani’s 35%. Republican Curtis Sliwa stands at 14%, while incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, also now running as an independent, has plummeted to 11%.
Cuomo’s challenge is intended to consolidate the anti-Mamdani vote — but critics say it reeks of desperation.
“Andrew Cuomo lost his primary and hides in the Hamptons. Eric Adams skipped his and fled to Fort Lauderdale,” Sliwa said in a statement. “Now, they’re both running as independents to cling to relevance.”
Independent candidate and former federal prosecutor Jim Walden said he welcomed Cuomo’s pledge and urged other candidates to follow suit, calling it “critical” to put New York’s future ahead of ego and ambition.
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7 Responses
He already lost miserably in the primary election between him and Mamdani. What does he think is going to happen in a re-match of the same exact two idiots?
I know far too little to comment on Mr. Cuomo or Mayor Adams. I DO know that Mr. Sliwa – with all of his defend the streets, protect Crown Heights, and down with antisemitism rhetoric – once said that antisemitism is “in the genes” of all gentiles. THAT is a real red flag to match Mr. Sliwa’s red beret.
Currently we have ranked voting. There isn’t a reason to drop out. They keep counting until someone gets the majority. Just don’t rank the one you want to lose.
Mr. Sliwa also said a lot of really negative things to a town upstate that was afraid of being invaded by Unzere a few years ago. Including that the Reform Party that he was leading at that time, would not support any candidate that would not pledge to fight the influence of the “block vote” (i.e. Chasidim or other Orthodox Jews who supposedly only vote for whom their Grand Rabbi tells them to).
In case you need a specific non-antisemitic policy of his that you might not like. He would certainly ban Kapporos in NYC because he is also a radical animal rights activist.
“Currently we have ranked voting.”
Not in the General Election
In the primary, Democrats made it very clear they want anyone but Cuomo; due to ranked voting used in the primary, it is clear he was the last choice of most Democratic voters, not the runner-up to Mamdani. He doesn’t seem to be able to take “no” for an answer. Mamdani winning with 40% of the vote (or less) would hardly have a mandate, and would give the state Democratic an invitation to block his proposals and to override anything outrageous he tries to do, though they might be afraid to do so.
Its about time that someone arrange a meeting and make an agreement with all opponents to Mamdani.
Right now it looks like we’re heading towards a catastrophe r”l.