New York City Mayor Eric Adams officially endorsed Andrew Cuomo on Thursday in the city’s upcoming mayoral election, surprising many given their previously bitter rivalry.
Adams and Cuomo appeared together at a campaign event in Harlem, signaling a political reconciliation after months of fierce competition and mutual criticism.
What they’re saying: Adams said of Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and a democratic socialist, “Am I angry I’m not the one taking down Zohran, the socialist and communist? You’re darn right I am.”
- He further called Mamdani “a snake-oil salesman” and warned voters against his perceived radical agenda.
- Adams acknowledged his past harsh words toward Cuomo, stating, “Brothers fight, but when families are attacked, brothers come together,” emphasizing the urgency he sees in uniting against Mamdani.
- Cuomo thanked Adams for his endorsement, calling him “a real Democrat and a real New Yorker.”
Driving the news: Cuomo, a centrist Democrat and former governor forced to resign in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal he denies, positioned himself as the only candidate capable of beating Mamdani.
- Mamdani, 34, a state assemblymember, shocked the political establishment by decisively defeating Cuomo in the June primary and stands to become New York City’s first Muslim mayor if elected.
- The campaign has grown increasingly heated, with Cuomo accusing Mamdani of equating criticism of Israel with antisemitism and warning that Mamdani’s victory would bring “crime, hatred and disorder” to the city.
What we’re watching: Cuomo’s path to victory increasingly depends on winning over moderates and Republicans, though the presence of Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa complicates the electoral math.
- Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels crime patrol group, has refused calls from Cuomo and his supporters to drop out of the race, potentially splitting the anti-Mamdani vote.
