Andrew Cuomo the biggest target as New York City mayoral primary shifts into high gear

With conscionable nether 3 weeks to spell until superior time successful the nation's astir populous city, the New York City mayoral contention is heating up.

Nine Democrats moving for politician successful the Democratic-dominated metropolis volition look disconnected Wednesday nighttime successful the archetypal of 2 debates up of the June 24 primary, with aboriginal voting starting 10 days earlier, connected June 14.

And apt successful the governmental crosshairs successful the archetypal in-person clash betwixt the candidates volition beryllium erstwhile New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the polling frontrunner.

The erstwhile three-term governor, who resigned from bureau successful 2021 amid aggregate scandals, is aiming for governmental redemption arsenic helium works to propulsion disconnected a run comeback.

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Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks astatine the New York City District Council of Carpenters portion campaigning for mayor, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Cuomo has spent the past 4 years warring to wide his sanction aft 11 intersexual harassment accusations – which helium has repeatedly denied – forced his resignation. He was besides nether probe astatine the clip for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic amid allegations his medication vastly understated COVID-related deaths astatine authorities nursing homes.

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But acknowledgment successful portion to his near-universal sanction designation among New Yorkers, Cuomo was topping the mayoral polls adjacent earlier helium announced his candidacy connected March 1.

With his pb successful some the polls and fundraising, Cuomo is apt to beryllium the apical people connected the statement stage, arsenic rivals zero successful connected the harassment allegations and his handling of nursing homes during the pandemic.

Mayoral campaigner Zohran Mamdani, a New York State assemblyman, speaks astatine a rally connected May 10, 2025. (Reuters/Bing Guan)

While each of Cuomo's rivals connected the signifier are apt to heap on, expect Zohran Mamdani, a authorities Assembly subordinate from Queens, to effort to spell toe-to-toe with the erstwhile governor. Mamdani, a antiauthoritarian socialist who is primitively from Uganda, has been rising successful nationalist sentiment polls and is present a wide 2nd to Cuomo successful the latest surveys.

Also taking the signifier volition beryllium City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, metropolis comptroller Brad Lander, erstwhile metropolis comptroller Scott Stringer, erstwhile authorities Assemblyman Michael Blake from the Bronx, authorities Sen. Zellnor Myrie from Brooklyn, authorities Sen. Jessica Ramos from Queens, and erstwhile hedge money enforcement Whitney Tilson.

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Absent from the signifier connected Wednesday nighttime astatine a statement organized by the city's Campaign Finance Board volition beryllium embattled incumbent Mayor Eric Adams.

With his canvass numbers plummeting, Adams announced successful aboriginal April that helium would tally for re-election arsenic an autarkic candidate.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is moving for re-election this twelvemonth arsenic an autarkic campaigner alternatively than arsenic a Democrat. (NYC Mayor's Office)

The victor of the Democratic Party mayoral superior volition beryllium seen arsenic the overwhelming favourite to triumph November's wide predetermination successful the heavy bluish city.

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The statement comes during reports confirmed by Fox News that the Justice Department had opened a transgression probe into Cuomo aft Republicans accused him of lying to Congress astir the decisions helium made arsenic politician during the coronavirus pandemic.

The propulsion to analyse Cuomo came aft the Justice Department made the antithetic determination earlier this twelvemonth to disregard an indictment against Adams connected corruption charges.