The support is a big change for Mayor Eric Adams. Just over a month ago, he called former Gov. Andrew Cuomo a “liar and a snake.”
New York mayoral candidates face off in final debate
Andrew Cuomo, Zoran Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa clashed over President Trump, housing, crime and sexual harassment allegations.
NEW YORK – Outgoing scandal-plagued New York City Mayor Eric Adams plans to support former Gov. Andrew Cuomo as his successor to lead the nation’s largest city, a spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY on Oct. 23.
Mr. Cuomo, a 67-year-old independent candidate, is trying to attract the votes of moderates and conservatives in order to build a double-digit lead in the polls against his Democratic opponent, Democratic Socialist state Rep. Zoran Mamdani, ahead of the Nov. 4 general election.
The endorsement is a big change for the 65-year-old Adams. Just over a month ago, he called Cuomo a “liar and a snake” who is running for re-election as the city’s second black mayor. Adams, a Democrat, suspended his campaign as an independent in late September after withdrawing from the Democratic primary that Mamdani won.
Opinion polls showed Mr. Adams, who is expected to remain on the ballot, had only single-digit approval ratings because of corruption charges against him and many senior officials in his administration.
From enemy to ally
In the final stages of the mayoral race, Adams appeared to have had a change of heart about his former opponent. The New York Times first reported on Adams’ support for Cuomo.
Immediately after the final mayoral debate on October 22, Mr. Cuomo and Mr. Adams appeared together at the New York Knicks’ season opener at Madison Square Garden.
Todd Shapiro, a spokesman for Mr. Adams, confirmed that he supports Mr. Cuomo. The mayor said in a statement that he and Cuomo “intend to campaign together.” He added that the joint appearances are currently being finalized.
A spokesperson for Mr. Cuomo did not respond to a request for comment.
Regarding X, Mamdani said, “The Art of the Deal,” apparently quoting President Donald Trump’s book. Mr. Trump had previously expressed hope that Mr. Adams and then Mr. Cuomo would defeat Mr. Mamdani.
“We will turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas exemplified by these two disgraced executives and build a city that every New Yorker can afford,” Mamdani said in a statement.
Mr. Cuomo, who also has a scandal-plagued electoral history, was trying to build a coalition of anti-Mamdani voters. He directly appealed to supporters of Republican Curtis Sliwa, who is trailing by three places in the polls, to force him out of the race. A spokesperson for Sliwa, who has vowed not to quit the race, did not respond to a request for comment.
Adams’ one-term mayoral bid has been hampered by federal charges related to his alleged solicitation and receipt of illegal gifts and campaign contributions from wealthy foreigners, including the Turkish government. After Trump’s victory, Adams allied himself with a deeply unpopular Republican locally, but the Trump administration’s Justice Department dropped the charges on the grounds that they would impede Adams’ ability to cooperate with immigration enforcement efforts.
The then-Brooklyn borough president, a former New York City police officer and once a registered Republican, won the 2021 Democratic primary with strong support from a diverse coalition of mostly working-class, non-white voters in the city’s suburban boroughs. He won the general election against Sliwa.
Mr. Cuomo, who was seen as unbeatable in the 2025 primary, struggled to hold together Mr. Adams’ coalition. He suffered a stunning loss to Mamdani, giving Mamdani an edge as the Democratic candidate.
Now, Mr. Cuomo is counting on every vote he can get.
During a tense debate on Oct. 22, moderators asked whether the candidates would accept Adams’ endorsement. Mamdani replied that she would not. Mr. Cuomo said he would.
“Mr. Sliwa?” asked moderator Katie Honan, a reporter for the non-profit news organization The City.
“Absolutely not!” Sliwa responded immediately. “Put that fraudster in prison where he belongs.”
“Please be careful,” Cuomo said.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Contact us via email (emcuevas1@usatoday.com) or Signal (emcuevas.01).
