Cuomo announces third-party run for NYC mayor
He will go up against progressive Democratic powerhouse Zohran Mamdani and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams


What happened
Former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that he will remain in the New York City mayoral race as an independent candidate running against progressive Democratic powerhouse Zohran Mamdani, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Once heavily favored to win, Cuomo was soundly defeated in the Democratic primary this month by Mamdani, who Cuomo said offered "slick slogans but no real solutions" in his campaign announcement.
Who said what
I'm "in it to win it," Cuomo said in an announcement video that marked a "reset" for the candidate "criticized for running a low-energy bid during the primary," said Politico. He will run under the independent "Fight and Deliver" party he created as a "backup plan in the event he lost the primary," said The Wall Street Journal. His candidacy is being "urged on" by supporters "anxious" that withdrawal would "nearly guarantee" a Mamdani victory and "put New York City in the hands of the far left," said The New York Times.
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What next?
Cuomo "avoided mentioning any of the other candidates in the race" in his announcement video, said Gothamist. Many of his supporters have acknowledged that his candidacy alongside Adams will "aid Mamdani," said Politico.
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Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
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