At left, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo casts his vote at the Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco on Sept. 13, 2018. Opposite, the Super Snow Moon peeks through clouds as it rises behind New York City's Empire State Building Tuesday in this view from Newark Super Snow Moon, December 19, 2019.
© Ricky Flores/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images + © Tom Costello, Thomas P. Costello, Asbury Park Press via Imagn Content Services, LLC
(New York, NY) – According to a report in POLITICO, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is plotting his return to politics — and could enter the race as soon as next month. But Cuomo is reportedly not eyeing his old job — rather, he’s interested in becoming the next mayor of New York City.
A native of the city — having grown up in Queens — Cuomo has the attitude and accent of a city resident. He’s also spent plenty of time in Westchester County in addition to his time at the governor’s mansion in Albany. In 2021, amid allegations of sexual misconduct from several women — Cuomo stepped down as governor. His deputy governor Kathy Hochul took over as governor — and eventually won re-election. Cuomo has consistently denied any wrong-doing.
Cuomo was also dogged by criticism connected to his leadership during the COVID pandemic. While he initially received rave reviews amid his daily TV briefings — being referred to by some as a “sex symbol” with the nickname “love gov” — he eventually came under fire. Most of that stemmed from his decision early on during the pandemic to force nursing homes to take in COVID-positive patients. By some estimates that led to a higher-than-necessary death told in New York. There are also allegations that Cuomo forced his staff to cover up the true death toll — and that paid staffers helped him write his book, for which the governor was personally paid millions of dollars.
A Cuomo spokesperson provided this statement: “… this week the DOJ Inspector General released a report that said former Governor Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy were corruptly targeted with Covid probes, even though other states had worse nursing home infection issues, and they were following federal guidance solely because it would help with the 2020 election.”
POLITICO says Cuomo may begin his campaign for mayor in early February — just weeks before he can begin petitioning to get his name on the ballot for the June Democratic primary. It’s also expected Cuomo will hire Manhattan consultant Charlie King to help lead his campaign. King has a long history with Cuomo, including as his running mate in an unsuccessful run for governor 2002.
In the past, Cuomo signaled an unwillingness to challenge incumbent Democratic Mayor Eric Adams — but that appears to have changed — amid Adams’ legal battles. There are also reports Adams could face new, additional charges, in a superseding indictment.
