Eric Adams to Endorse Andrew Cuomo in NYC Mayoral Race/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ New York City Mayor Eric Adams will formally endorse Andrew Cuomo for mayor, aligning with his former rival to stop Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani. The endorsement comes after months of tension and political attacks between Adams and Cuomo. With Curtis Sliwa still in the race, the endorsement signals an urgent push to consolidate the anti-Mamdani vote.
Adams Backs Cuomo: NYC Mayoral Endorsement Quick Looks
- Mayor Eric Adams to endorse former rival Andrew Cuomo
- Adams previously called Cuomo a “snake and a liar”
- Endorsement aims to unify moderates against Zohran Mamdani
- Cuomo lost primary to Mamdani but runs as independent
- Curtis Sliwa refuses to exit race, complicating Cuomo’s path
- Cuomo has escalated attacks on Mamdani in recent weeks
- Adams dropped reelection bid amid corruption investigation
Deep Look: Mayor Adams Endorses Cuomo in Surprise Mayoral Shake-Up
NEW YORK — In a dramatic twist to New York City’s high-stakes mayoral race, current Mayor Eric Adams will endorse Andrew Cuomo, his former political nemesis, in a late effort to derail progressive frontrunner Zohran Mamdani’s campaign.
The endorsement, confirmed Thursday by Adams’ spokesperson Todd Shapiro, marks a stark political pivot. Until recently, Adams had referred to Cuomo as “a snake and a liar,” while Cuomo blasted Adams’ administration as a “never-ending series of government corruption.” But with Mamdani maintaining momentum ahead of the November election, the two embattled figures have found common cause.
Shapiro said Adams plans to campaign alongside Cuomo in the days ahead. When asked about the mayoral race during a Thursday press conference, Adams responded briefly:
“I’ll be with Andrew later today,” offering no further comment.
Photos of the two men smiling together at Madison Square Garden during Wednesday night’s Knicks season opener had already sparked speculation. The timing — just hours after the final mayoral debate — suggested a coordinated shift in political strategy.
A Rivalry Reversed
Just weeks ago, Adams had exited the race under pressure from a now-dismissed federal corruption probe. The case had significantly weakened his political standing, despite the Trump administration’s surprise intervention to close the matter. Since then, Adams has remained largely silent on the future of the race — until now.
Cuomo, running as a centrist independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani in June, has been working to consolidate moderate and right-leaning voters. But the presence of Republican Curtis Sliwa on the ballot has split the anti-Mamdani vote, making it increasingly difficult for Cuomo to pull ahead.
In recent days, Cuomo has aggressively ramped up his criticism of Mamdani, warning that the 34-year-old Democratic Socialist Assemblymember would usher in chaos. He’s made multiple appearances on conservative talk shows, painting Mamdani as unfit to lead New York.
“This city cannot afford an experiment in extremism,” Cuomo said in a recent appearance. “We need experienced leadership, not a candidate who has never run anything.”
Sliwa Refuses to Exit
Despite pressure from Cuomo’s camp, Curtis Sliwa has refused to drop out of the race. The Guardian Angels founder, known for his colorful persona and law-and-order platform, insists he’s staying in until Election Day.
Sliwa’s continued presence creates a three-way race that complicates Cuomo’s math. Without full consolidation of the moderate and conservative vote, Mamdani could maintain his lead through a divided opposition.
Still, Adams’ endorsement could give Cuomo a last-minute boost among centrist Democrats and city officials looking to stop Mamdani’s surge.
A Bitter Past, A United Front
The Adams-Cuomo relationship has long been fraught. Before Adams dropped out of the race, he accused Cuomo of systematically undermining Black candidates in New York state politics — a charge Cuomo denied.
“He made a career of pushing Black candidates out of races,” Adams said weeks before suspending his campaign.
Cuomo returned fire by attacking Adams’ record as mayor. “New Yorkers had turned off on his management of the city,” Cuomo said earlier this year. But political survival and the shared goal of defeating Mamdani appear to have smoothed over past grievances.
In fact, some of Adams’ senior aides and political allies had already broken ranks to support Cuomo, laying the groundwork for Thursday’s announcement.
Aimed at Mamdani
Adams’ endorsement may be seen as a final attempt to stop Mamdani, whose upset primary win against Cuomo sent shockwaves through the city’s Democratic establishment. A staunch progressive, Mamdani has built a grassroots coalition focused on affordability, housing justice, and resisting federal overreach — including potential interventions from a reelected President Donald Trump.
In a recent video announcing his withdrawal from the race, Adams didn’t name Mamdani directly but warned of “insidious forces” aiming to use local government to “advance divisive agendas,” which many interpreted as a thinly veiled criticism of the progressive lawmaker.
Now, with the mayor’s backing, Cuomo gains more than just a symbolic ally — he gains institutional weight and access to Adams’ still-influential network, especially in key swing boroughs like the Bronx and Queens.
Whether that endorsement will shift the trajectory of the race remains uncertain. But what is clear: the battle for New York City’s future just got even more personal.
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