Mayor Eric Adams made a bold move Thursday by endorsing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo as his successor in the New York City mayoral race.
As reported by Fox News, Adams, who recently suspended his own re-election bid, stood alongside Cuomo to announce his support just a day after a fiery debate between Cuomo, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
This endorsement comes on the heels of Adams halting his campaign on Sept. 28, a decision that shifted the dynamics of an already contentious race. It’s no secret that Adams and Cuomo have had their differences, but they’ve now united with a clear goal: blocking Mamdani from taking City Hall.
Wednesday night’s debate saw Cuomo, running as an Independent, spar with Mamdani and Sliwa before he slipped away to join Adams courtside at a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. The image of the two grinning together signaled a partnership that was formalized the next day.
Adams didn’t hold back during the endorsement, stating, “I'm fighting for the family of New York,” emphasizing his focus on Black and Brown communities who he believes have been overlooked in this election. His words carry weight, but let’s be real: this is less about family and more about keeping a progressive agenda from reshaping the city into something unrecognizable.
The timing of this move, right after Adams’ campaign suspension, suggests a calculated effort to consolidate power against Mamdani, who has maintained a strong lead in recent polls. Pressure has also mounted from influential figures like John Catsimatidis and Bill Ackman for Sliwa to step aside, paving a clearer path for Cuomo.
Recent Fox News polling from Oct. 10-14 shows Mamdani holding a commanding 21-point lead among registered voters with 49% support, while Cuomo trails at 28% and Sliwa at 13%. Among likely voters, Mamdani’s edge grows even sharper, crossing the 50% threshold with 52% backing.
Mamdani didn’t mince words in response to the endorsement, saying, “Today confirms what we’ve long known: Andrew Cuomo is running for Eric Adams’ second term.” His jab about corruption and alignment with big money hits hard, but it glosses over the fact that many New Yorkers are wary of his own far-left policies, which could burden taxpayers more than any billionaire’s influence.
At a Manhattan campaign event Thursday, Mamdani doubled down, warning against turning City Hall into an extension of what he called authoritarianism from Washington, D.C. His rhetoric sounds noble, but it dodges the question of whether his vision for the city aligns with the practical needs of everyday residents over ideological crusades.
Adams and Cuomo’s alliance is a fascinating turn, given their history of public spats, with Adams once labeling Cuomo harsh names like “snake” and “liar.” Yet, Adams brushed this aside Thursday, saying, “He called me names, but now it's time to fight for the family,” signaling a pragmatic truce.
Cuomo, for his part, praised Adams for setting aside personal ambition, noting, “The mayor put his own personal ambition and ego aside to make sure he's doing everything he can to make sure that New York remains New York.” It’s a nice sentiment, but one wonders if this is less about preserving the city’s identity and more about preserving a certain kind of political control.
This partnership also comes amid Adams’ own political recovery after federal charges of bribery, wire fraud, and conspiracy were dropped earlier this year by the Trump administration’s Justice Department. While Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has endorsed Mamdani, considered removing Adams from office after City Hall resignations, the mayor’s alignment with Trump and now Cuomo shows a knack for strategic survival.
Mamdani’s rise, fueled by a primary upset over Cuomo through ranked-choice voting and an alliance with Comptroller Brad Lander, has made him a national figure, but also a lightning rod for criticism. His social media warnings about Cuomo’s early frontrunner status before the primary remind us how quickly fortunes can shift in politics.
For now, the race remains a battle of visions: Mamdani’s progressive push against Cuomo’s establishment comeback, with Sliwa struggling to gain traction. The question is whether Adams’ endorsement can rally enough support to close the gap, or if it’s too little, too late against a candidate who’s captured the imagination of over half the likely voters.
Ultimately, New Yorkers face a choice between continuity with a checkered past and a radical shift that could redefine the city’s future. As the campaign barrels forward, the real fight isn’t just for votes, but for the soul of a metropolis at a crossroads, where practical governance must outweigh empty promises or untested experiments.
