Former Governor Andrew Cuomo said he will drop out of the New York City Mayoral race if he can’t beat self-described Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani — who he already lost to in the June primary.
Cuomo, who officially launched his independent campaign on Monday after much speculation that he would do so after losing the primary, but said that he was taking the advice of former Governor David Paterson (D-NY) and would defer to another candidate if said candidate had a better chance of beating Mamdani in November’s general election.
Watch:
“Governor Paterson put forth a very good idea with [independent mayoral candidate] Mr. Walden,” Cuomo said. “We get to September, who’s the strongest candidate, and the other candidates defer and don’t compete. Put forth the strongest candidate because it’s about stopping Mr. Mamdani.”
“Whoever the strongest candidate is, that person should go forward,” Cuomo continued, adding, “If it’s me, fine. If it’s not me, I will defer.”
Paterson has been outspoken in his calls for a coalition of sorts among the independent candidates, saying during a press conference that one or more independent candidates should drop out in order to prevent Democrats from splitting their votes against the socialist.
Paterson, according to Politico reporter Jeff Coltin, is connected to the New York City mayor’s race on all fronts and not just on the Democratic side. He also has a personal connection to Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
“David Paterson really is the man in the middle — a friend of Adams, endorsed Cuomo, worked for Walden, stepfather to Sliwa’s son,” he said.
Mamdani, who is also a member of the New York City Democratic Socialists of America, had a significant lead over Cuomo.
Cuomo told his supporters at the time, “Tonight was not our night. Tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani’s night.”
Mamdani won the primary by 12 percentage points. (RELATED: Andrew Cuomo Concedes To Zohran Mamdani In Stunning Political Upset)
In a statement after it was called, he said, “Democrats spoke in a clear voice, delivering a mandate for an affordable city, a politics of the future, and a leader unafraid to fight back against rising authoritarianism.”
Current Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, announced in June he would be running for re-election as an independent after federal corruption charges were dismissed against him at the request of the Justice Department in April.
The general election is scheduled for Nov. 4.
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