Andrew Cuomo is shifting gears and taking private accountability for operating what he admits was a lackluster marketing campaign within the Democratic mayoral major, acknowledging that any strategic errors in the end fall on him.
Now operating as an impartial in November’s basic election in opposition to Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, Cuomo stated he can be taking a really completely different tact.
“Better use with social media, reaching out to more young people and touching more people,” Cuomo stated of his new focus whereas using the Q prepare from 96th St. to 72nd St. in between stops to speak to voters on the Higher East Facet, the place he largely obtained a constructive reception.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo poses a step hanger within the 72nd St. Q Station Wednesday, July 16, 2025 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Each day Information)
“He’s for New York, and all that other stuff that happened with him doesn’t matter,” Annie Albarian, 65, a registered Republican and Higher East Facet resident who plans to vote for Cuomo in November, stated, a reference to his 2021 resignation.
Cuomo, who resigned as governor amid sexual {and professional} misconduct accusations he denies, stated he’ll be doing extra retail politics, like using the trains, strolling the streets and interacting instantly with voters.
Mamdani defeated Cuomo within the major by a 12% margin after operating an brisk marketing campaign grounded in that kind of direct outreach.
In contrast, Cuomo ran a “Rose Garden” marketing campaign of types throughout the major, largely staying out of the general public highlight and counting on a supportive tremendous PAC to spend closely on advertisements for him, as almost all polls projected he’d simply defeat Mamdani and his different opponents.
“All the political geniuses said we had a big lead and the campaign played it safe, I played it safe, uncharacteristically, and that was a mistake,” he stated on the Q prepare.
As a part of Cuomo’s basic election bid revamp, a supply aware of the matter stated he additionally plans to rent a brand new marketing campaign supervisor, a brand new social media group and a brand new consulting agency to spearhead technique for him. Throughout the major, Cuomo relied closely on Mercury, a PR agency headed by his longtime ally Charlie King.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo exterior the 72nd St. Q Station Wednesday, July 16, 2025 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Each day Information)
Although his type might change, Cuomo signaled Wednesday he’ll proceed to pitch himself as a battle-tested supervisor who has the kind of deep expertise New York wants at a time of myriad challenges, like a housing disaster and federal funding cuts from President Trump.
He may even proceed to color Mamdani, a 33-year-old Queens Meeting member, as too inexperienced and his coverage platform, which features a promise to freeze hire for stabilized tenants, as too radical and unrealistic.
“He’s not a Democrat,” Cuomo, a lifelong Democrat, stated when requested how he justifies difficult the Democratic nominee in November’s contest. “A socialist won in the Democratic primary.”
Cuomo’s personal coverage platform stays a bit diffuse, with a number of of his proposals, together with for addressing the native housing disaster, gentle on particulars.
Cuomo’s Wednesday marketing campaign jaunt included some advantageous areas.
“He’s loving, he’s kind, he’s generous, he’s the best landlord we had ever,” Leotha McLean Chase, who has lived within the housing complicated because it opened in 1992, stated exterior the constructing earlier than affirming she’s voting for Cuomo in November.
Regardless of his technique, Cuomo faces an uphill battle.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo talks to MTA staff on the 96th St. Q station Wednesday, July 16, 2025 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Each day Information)
Because the Democratic nominee, Mamdani is polling as the favourite to win in November, given town’s overwhelmingly Democratic citizens. Throughout the major, Mamdani generated a groundswell of help from younger voters by centering his marketing campaign on a slate of coverage proposals targeted on affordability, and he has racked up key institutional help since then, together with from highly effective unions that used to again Cuomo.
Cuomo’s path to election is additional difficult by Mayor Adams, who’s additionally operating as an impartial in November and appeals to an identical constituency of moderates and conservatives, probably slicing into the ex-gov’s base of help.
In formally coming into the November race earlier this week, Cuomo proposed that every one impartial and Republican candidates within the operating ought to decide to dropping out in September and coalesce behind the one who’s polling finest in a head-to-head matchup with Mamdani to maximise their possibilities of beating him.
To date, Cuomo’s polling as Mamdani’s largest menace. However Adams and Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa have already affirmed they won’t entertain such a polling proposal, with the incumbent saying Cuomo’s the one who ought to drop out.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo greets supporters exterior Genesis Properties in Canarsie, Brooklyn, New York Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (Barry Williams/ New York Each day Information)
“Right now, I’m sure he believes he will be the stronger candidate, and, great, run your campaign, and if he’s the stronger candidate, I will defer,” Cuomo stated. “But I’m running my campaign, and if I’m the stronger candidate, he should defer.”
