Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced Saturday that he’s working for mayor of New York Metropolis, relaunching his political profession following a years-long exile over a barrage of sexual harassment accusations.
In a 17-minute video asserting his marketing campaign, Cuomo pitched himself as an completed average who may save a metropolis that felt threatening and “uncontrolled,” and is able to navigating the fragile stability between working with Republican President Trump and combating him, when obligatory.
“I’m not saying that is going to be simple. It received’t be simple, however I do know we will flip town round and I consider I might help, and that’s the reason I announce my candidacy right this moment for mayor of New York Metropolis right this moment,” he mentioned.
The Democrat is predicted to mount a formidable marketing campaign, regardless of getting into the race deeply wounded by the scandal that pressured his resignation from the governor’s workplace in 2021.
He takes on a big subject of major opponents with low identify recognition plus an incumbent, Mayor Eric Adams, who — for now — stays underneath indictment on federal corruption fees, and underneath scrutiny from critics who query his independence from Trump.
Cuomo enters the race with fundraising prowess, a file of accomplishments over his three phrases as governor and potential help amongst lots of the identical average voters who helped propel Adams to workplace.
But it’s unclear whether or not voters are keen to offer Cuomo one other probability following his exceptional downfall 3½ years in the past, when he went from being hailed for his management throughout the onslaught of COVID-19 to being castigated for his habits with girls and questioned about his response to the pandemic.
In his marketing campaign video, Cuomo acknowledged previous “errors” however didn’t straight point out the harassment allegations.
“Did I all the time do all the pieces proper in my years of presidency service? In fact not,” he mentioned. “Would I do some issues otherwise understanding what I do know now? Definitely. Did I make errors, some painfully? Positively, and I consider I discovered from them and that I’m a greater particular person for it and I hope to indicate that daily.”
Plotting a comeback from scandal
Cuomo had been circling a return to politics for years whereas his legal professionals and political consultants saved attempting to discredit his accusers.
At the least 11 girls credibly accused him of sexual harassment, which included allegations of undesirable kissing and touching, in addition to remarking about their appears and intercourse lives, in response to a report launched by New York’s lawyer basic. One aide later filed a prison criticism accusing Cuomo of grabbing her breast after they had been alone within the governor’s mansion in Albany in late 2020.
Cuomo denied the sexual assault allegation, which a prosecutor in the end dropped on the grounds that there wasn’t sufficient proof to get a conviction.
As for his habits with a few of the different girls, Cuomo mentioned he didn’t deliberately mistreat them and had merely fallen behind the occasions of what was thought of acceptable office conduct.
Taxpayers have spent tens of millions of {dollars} defending him and his prime aides in court docket in opposition to numerous lawsuits associated to the allegations.
A crowded subject of challengers
The mayor’s race already has a number of candidates vying to beat Adams within the June Democratic major.
Amongst them are metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, state Sen. Jessica Ramos, state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and former metropolis Comptroller Scott Stringer, who was a front-runner within the mayor’s race 4 years in the past till a lady accused him of groping and kissing her with out her consent 20 years earlier.
Ramos in an announcement referred to as Cuomo a “corrupt bully” who “brings nothing to this race however baggage.”
Myrie mentioned New York shouldn’t be pressured to relive “the Andrew Cuomo present.”
“We deserve higher than egocentric leaders who spent a long time in workplace placing their need for energy above New Yorkers’ wants,” Myrie mentioned.
Adams, caught on a metropolis avenue by a Politico reporter after Cuomo’s announcement, welcomed the previous governor to the race.
“Come one, come all. Everyone ought to put their place ahead. I’ve an incredible file to run on. We sit up for the marketing campaign,” he mentioned.
Cuomo faces a weak incumbent
Adams can be in search of reelection however is going through a tempest over the prison case in opposition to him, and the U.S. Justice Division’s extraordinary effort to finish the case over the objection of the prosecutors who introduced the fees.
An indictment mentioned Adams accepted luxurious journey perks and unlawful marketing campaign contributions from individuals who wished to purchase his affect, together with a Turkish official and different overseas nationals. After Trump took workplace, a prime Justice Division official ordered prosecutors to dismiss the fees so Adams may concentrate on helping the president’s immigration agenda, whereas leaving open the probably that the case may reemerge after the mayoral election.
That dynamic led critics to assert that Adams had struck a deal to assist with Trump’s immigration crackdown in trade for authorized salvation.
Adams has denied such an association was made, whereas going through intense stress to step down and a possible elimination from workplace by Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat. A few of the mayor’s prime deputies introduced plans to step down in protest.
Lengthy rise to energy, fast fall
Cuomo began in politics working for his father, then-New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, and later rose to grow to be U.S. Housing secretary underneath President Clinton and New York lawyer basic earlier than being elected governor in 2010.
His nationwide star energy was highest throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, when his televised day by day briefings, stuffed with clear-eyed rhetoric on the virus, attracted admirers nationwide who noticed him as a gentle hand of management in a chaotic time. The briefings received a global Emmy award and led to him getting a e book deal for greater than $5 million to put in writing “American Disaster: Management Classes From the Covid-19 Pandemic.”
Girls, although, started coming ahead in late 2020 and early 2021, accusing Cuomo of misconduct. He confronted a possible impeachment earlier than he stepped down. A state ethics panel tried unsuccessfully to get Cuomo to surrender the proceeds of his e book deal after it decided he used taxpayer assets to arrange, edit and publish the e book.
Questions on dealing with of COVID-19 in nursing properties
Cuomo was additional broken by allegations {that a} directive from his administration had unintentionally contributed to a wave of COVID-19 deaths in nursing properties by initially barring them from refusing to readmit virus sufferers discharged from hospitals.
The governor contended that the allegations had been baseless, however his administration was subsequently discovered to have considerably undercounted the variety of nursing dwelling deaths because it sought to deflect the criticism.
Cuomo nonetheless has a big marketing campaign struggle chest that would technically be utilized in his bid for mayor. However the technique of transferring his state donations to a metropolis committee could be sophisticated and require every donor to log off on the change, a probably burdensome effort.
Izaguirre writes for the Related Press.
