Andrew Cuomo Joins NYC Mayoral Race as Democratic Frontrunner

Andrew Cuomo has been leading early polls for the NYC mayoral race despite his resignation as governor amid harassment allegations in 2021, setting the stage for a potential political comeback that has observers questioning whether his experience outweighs his scandal-plagued past.

Quick Takes

Andrew Cuomo has entered the NYC mayoral race as frontrunner, with one recent poll putting him at 31% support among registered Democrats, while current Mayor Eric Adams trails at 11%.
Cuomo resigned as New York governor in 2021 amid harassment allegations, which he continues to deny.
Despite past scandals, Cuomo maintains a 48%-41% favorable rating among NYC voters, with particularly strong support from Black voters.
The Democratic mayoral primary is scheduled for June 24, 2025, using a ranked-choice voting system.
Cuomo’s campaign focuses on addressing homelessness, public safety, and what he describes as a city “out of control and in crisis.”

Cuomo’s Surprising Lead in the Polls

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has emerged as the frontrunner in the New York City mayoral race, leading current Mayor Eric Adams by a significant margin. A recent poll from Quinnipiac University showed Cuomo with 31% support among registered Democrats, while Adams trailed at just 11%. Other polls from February placed him as the lead candidate among about a third of Democratic participants.

This substantial lead comes despite Cuomo’s resignation as governor in 2021 following multiple allegations of harassment. The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 24, using the city’s ranked-choice voting system, which allows voters to select candidates in order of preference rather than choosing just one.

Cuomo’s strong showing in early polls reflects both name recognition and nostalgia for his handling of the early 2020 health emergency, when his daily briefings made him a national figure. However, his popularity later suffered when investigations revealed his administration had undercounted nursing home deaths. He later ended up giving up his position after allegations of harassment emerged.

Adams’ approval rating sits at a dismal 20%, the lowest for any NYC mayor in three decades, amid federal investigations into alleged corruption within his administration.

Campaign Strategy and Public Perception

Cuomo is positioning himself as a law-and-order moderate with the experience needed to address New York City’s pressing challenges. His campaign focuses on homelessness, public safety, and what he describes as a city spiraling out of control. In his campaign announcement, Cuomo acknowledged past mistakes while pledging to provide effective leadership during challenging times. A super PAC called “Fix the City” has registered to support his campaign, aiming to raise significant funds for what will likely be an expensive race.

Despite the controversies surrounding him, Cuomo maintains support among many New York City voters. Per a recent poll, his favorable rating stands at 48%-41%, with particularly strong support from Black voters at 57%-29%.

Controversies and Challenges

Cuomo’s mayoral bid comes less than four years after his resignation as governor amid allegations of harassment from multiple women. Though he has consistently denied these accusations, an investigation by the state attorney general found the claims credible. Since leaving office, Cuomo has worked to rehabilitate his image, launching a podcast, making public appearances, and filing a defamation lawsuit against one of his accusers.

Critics also point to Cuomo’s handling of the 2020 health emergency in nursing homes and accusations of a bullying management style during his tenure as governor. His rivals in the mayoral race are already using these controversies as campaign fodder. Current Mayor Eric Adams has dismissed the polls showing Cuomo’s lead, comparing him to Andrew Yang, who led early polls in the 2021 mayoral race but ultimately finished fourth. The son of former Governor Mario Cuomo, Andrew has a long political history in New York, having served as state attorney general before his three terms as governor.