Cuomo camp rejects AOC claim he’s using NYC mayor bid for presidential run
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is currently leading the race for mayor in New York City, alongside struggling incumbent Eric Adams. However, his camp has rejected claims made by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that he is only seeking the mayorship to improve his chances of becoming president.
Ocasio-Cortez is backing socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, who is currently a state assemblyman from Astoria. She has criticized Cuomo, claiming that he has expressed interest in running for president in the future. Cuomo’s spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, denied these claims, stating that the governor has only said he plans to finish his term as mayor.
Mamdani, born in Uganda, has gained attention with his bold progressive platform, which includes proposals such as city-owned grocery stores, a rent freeze, free public transit, and a $30 minimum wage. Despite his popularity among the far left, the New York Times editorial board cautioned against ranking Mamdani on the ballot, citing concerns about the feasibility of his agenda in addressing the city’s challenges.
Several of Cuomo’s challengers, including former New York State Assemblyman Michael Blake, Comptroller Bradford Lander, and Mamdani, have cross-endorsed each other in the hopes of garnering support from each other’s voters. However, Azzopardi dismissed these endorsements, particularly highlighting Blake’s low poll numbers.
On the right flank of the race, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, remains largely unopposed in the ranked-choice system. As the race for mayor in New York City heats up, the competition between candidates on both sides of the political spectrum is intensifying.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital, covering media, politics, and culture. He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant and is a Pennsylvania native who graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. For story tips, he can be reached at charles.creitz@fox.com.
