Reports are circulating that Andrew Cuomo, the scandal-ridden former governor of New York, is considering a return to the political arena by running for the position of mayor in New York City.
Axios reports that Cuomo was contemplating a mayoral bid even before the indictment news of the current New York City Mayor Eric Adams surfaced. Despite the charges, Adams has firmly stated that he has no intention of resigning. He is up against a tough Democratic primary in 2025, alongside demands for him to step down.
In 2021, Cuomo stepped down from his gubernatorial position following findings from an independent probe that he had sexually harassed several women, claims he has rebutted, expressing regret over his resignation. His handling of the COVID-19 pandemic also came under fire during a congressional hearing.
““I think he’s [Cuomo] going to run,” Chris Coffey, who previously advised NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, shared with Politico. He further noted, “He was probably going to run no matter what, and a weakened, or out-of-the-race Eric Adams is a better bet for him,”
Despite the controversies, Cuomo has a significant amount of campaign funds at his disposal for a potential candidacy. A sexual misconduct charge levied against him in 2022 was dropped, with the Albany County District Attorney citing a lack of sufficient evidence while acknowledging the accuser’s credibility.
Moreover, Cuomo has taken legal steps against Attorney General Letitia James, accusing her of mishandling the investigation into his conduct. He has initiated a lawsuit for access to witness statements from the inquiry. Although the Justice Department identified a sexually hostile environment and federal retaliation violations under Cuomo’s leadership, an agreement was reached with the New York State Executive Chamber to settle the claims.
Despite speculation, a spokesperson for Cuomo conveyed to Axios that he has “no plans to make plans” regarding a mayoral campaign. Nonetheless, earlier this year, he did allocate funds to explore the possibility of entering the race.
