NYC mayor Adams and former Gov Cuomo clash over 2025 mayoral bids

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and current New York City Mayor Eric Adams are both locked in a heated battle for the 2025 mayoral race against Democratic Party nominee Zohran Mamdani. The tension between the two candidates has reached a boiling point, with each urging the other to drop out of the race and throw their support behind the candidate who has the best chance of winning.

Adams, speaking at a news conference on Monday, called on Cuomo to align behind him, as he was the clear winner of the Democratic Party mayoral primary. Meanwhile, Cuomo’s top advisor argued that Mayor Adams has no path to victory in the race.

Mamdani, the 33-year-old democratic socialist assemblyman from Queens, stunned political observers by defeating Cuomo in the primary by 12 points. His victory instantly made him the frontrunner in the heavily blue city of New York, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a wide margin.

With his victory over Cuomo, Mamdani made history as he took a major step towards becoming the first Muslim mayor of New York City. He will face off against Republican Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, in the general election in November.

Adams, who won election as mayor in 2021 as a Democrat, is running as an independent candidate in the race. He dropped his Democratic re-election bid earlier this year amid controversies and sinking poll numbers.

Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amidst scandals, had been the frontrunner in the mayoral race until Mamdani surged in the closing weeks of the campaign. Despite his loss, Cuomo has left the door open to running as an independent candidate.

The tension between Adams and Cuomo has escalated in recent days, with each calling on the other to drop out of the race. Adams accused Cuomo of arrogance for asking him to step aside, while Cuomo’s advisor criticized Adams for being unelectable.

The race for New York City mayor has reignited debates within the Democratic Party between its moderate and progressive wings. Mamdani’s victory has underscored the party’s internal divisions and raised questions about the party’s policies and messaging.

As the November election draws closer, the battle for New York City mayor is shaping up to be a fierce and closely watched contest. Voters will ultimately decide the outcome of the race, as Mamdani, Adams, and Cuomo vie for the city’s top job.