NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo wins Democratic primary, but gets stiff opposition from left wing

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo won his Democratic primary on Tuesday night for a second term — but with a surprisingly moderate-sized victory for someone who previously seemed like an unstoppable political force. His little-known opponent, Zephyr Teachout, a law professor at Fordham University, represented a strong and vocal opposition from Cuomo's left.
With 88 percent of precincts reporting, Cuomo has 61 percent of the vote against Teachout, with 35 percent. In the separate primary for lieutenant governor, Cuomo's running mate Kathy Hochul, a former congresswoman from the Buffalo area, has 59 percent; Teachout's running mate, Columbia University law professor Tim Wu, has 41 percent.
Teachout based her campaign on opposition to Cuomo's centrist policies, including his record of fiscal austerity, and gained the support (or at least the neutrality) of many prominent public employee unions. For his part, Cuomo has touted his progressive accomplishments in areas such as gun control and legalizing gay marriage, while saying that he made the decisions needed for state government to function properly again.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Cuomo has also been under fire — and is reportedly even under federal investigation — for his alleged interference in a commission on public corruption, which he ultimately disbanded. Nevertheless, Cuomo remains the very heavy favorite to win re-election in November against the Republican nominee, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino. A recent Quinnipiac poll showed Cuomo with a lead of 56 percent to 28 percent.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The state of Britain's Armed Forces
The Explainer Geopolitical unrest and the unreliability of the Trump administration have led to a frantic re-evaluation of the UK's military capabilities
By The Week UK
-
Anti-anxiety drug has a not-too-surprising effect on fish
Under the radar The fish act bolder and riskier
By Devika Rao, The Week US
-
Sudoku medium: April 21, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Two judges bar war-powers deportations
Speed Read The Trump administration was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport more alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US