Endorsement supporters of Andrew Cuomo have remained discreet in their public statements
In the heated race for New York City's mayoral seat, a significant shift in support is emerging among the Democratic ranks. Assembly Member David Weprin, notably, has yet to declare his backing for any candidate.
Andrew Cuomo, once boasting the support of former President Bill Clinton, ex-mayor Michael Bloomberg, about 35 elected officials, powerful unions, and many surrogates, has seen a substantial reversal in endorsements since the primary. This change is evident in the extensive list of Zohran Mamdani's supporters, many of whom had previously aligned with Cuomo.
Prominent figures such as U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, U.S. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jerrold Nadler, Nydia Velázquez, Pramila Jayapal, and Adriano Espaillat, New York state Attorney General Letitia James and Comptroller Brad Lander, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, among others, have switched their endorsements from Cuomo to Mamdani.
This broad coalition of progressive and influential politicians is joined by State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, several state senators including Brad Hoylman-Sigal, John Liu, Julia Salazar, Jabari Brisport, Kristen Gonzalez, Gustavo Rivera, and Zellnor Myrie, Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair and Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, and numerous Assembly Members such as Micah Lasher, Emily Gallagher, Phara Souffrant Forest, Marcela Mitaynes, Karines Reyes, Claire Valdez, Sarahana Shrestha, Khaleel Anderson, Robert Carroll, Jessica González-Rojas, Brian Cunningham, Steven Raga, and Manny De Los Santos.
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, City Council Members including Chi Ossé, Justin Brannan, Shaun Abreu, Carmen De La Rosa, and others have also endorsed Mamdani.
The United Auto Workers union, which previously withheld support from Cuomo, has also endorsed Mamdani following internal reforms emphasizing transparency and progressive activism.
Bichotte Hermelyn, a key figure in Brooklyn's Democratic party, has stated that Cuomo has "absolutely no support" and there is "absolutely nothing" he could do to substantially rebuild it. She is confident that most elected officials in Brooklyn will endorse Mamdani by November.
Cuomo's spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, stated that the governor understands if former backers made different decisions in the general election. Assembly Member Eddie Gibbs, who was initially a Cuomo supporter, is "not rushing" to endorse anyone and will let his constituents decide through a candidate forum in mid-September.
Despite the shift in endorsements, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries have yet to back the Democratic nominee. Out of the 19 Assembly members who endorsed Cuomo in the primary, only De Los Santos has publicly declared his stance, backing Mamdani in the general election.
Endorsements have been a controversial component of this mayoral election, with several of Cuomo's primary supporters reversing their positions after calling for him to resign over sexual misconduct allegations in 2021. Notably, Keith Wright, who endorsed Mamdani following the primary, understands the trepidation in endorsing a candidate. Assembly Members Jordan Wright and Erik Dilan, who have yet to make their endorsement decisions, have not received a request for support from Cuomo.
Mamdani has conducted extensive outreach in Brooklyn, while Cuomo has been less visible in the borough compared to Mamdani since the primary. Cuomo removed the endorsement page on his campaign website shortly after launching his independent bid on July 14. The governor has been "everywhere in every corner of the city" meeting voters, but it remains to be seen if this will translate into significant support in the general election.
- The current shift in endorsements within the Democratic ranks for New York City's mayoral seat, evident in the support switching from Andrew Cuomo to Zohran Mamdani, suggests a policy-and-legislation and politics move towards more progressive positions, driven by war-and-conflicts, general-news, and migration-related concerns.
- As the General Election approaches, Migration, war-and-conflicts, and policies and legislation are expected to shape New York City's mayoral race as progressive and influential politicians, such as Assembly Member David Weprin, yet to declare their support, consider their endorsements in this heated context.
