Andrew Cuomo, the former Governor of New York, is fast positioning himself as a staunch supporter of Israel, a development that’s been noticed as the New York City mayoral election approaches. Part of this positioning includes his recent alignment with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s legal team, actively battling against charges of war crimes sanctioned by the International Criminal Court. Additionally, Cuomo called attention to the New York Times for their reporting on an incident involving the killing of a rabbi in Dubai.
This series of actions hints at an underpinning strategy from Cuomo to raise his standing with pro-Israel and Jewish voters in New York City, all in a bid to bid for the city’s leadership. However, achieving this would require a significant effort to outmaneuver an already saturated field of Democrats. When pressed about Cuomo’s prospective mayoral run, one of his representatives did not refute the possibility, rather choosing to highlight the ex-Governor’s track record.
Rich Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Cuomo, advised that any discussion around Cuomo’s mayoral bid was ‘premature.’ He then invoked Cuomo’s achievements as governor, crediting him with the increase in wages for a multitude of workers, the implementation of Roe v. Wade provisions into state law ahead the Supreme Court’s reversal, the enforcement of strict gun safety laws and family leave rules, impressive public projects including Moynihan train station, new LaGuardia and JFK airports, Second Avenue subway and the Kosciuszko Bridge, and fiscal responsibility reflected in tax cuts and spending control.
Cuomo, in his public appearance at an event, underscored the significance of the ongoing developments. ‘This is the moment that counts,’ he expressed. ‘This is the moment that will be documented in history books… This is when true allies stand in solidarity, and champion the cause of Israel.’
There is an emerging belief among some Jewish leaders and political analysts that Cuomo may indeed join the mayoral race. Leon Goldberg, a prominent Orthodox business figure in Brooklyn and an associate of Mayor Eric Adams, has expressed that he might contemplate supporting Cuomo should he decide to be a part of the race. In Goldberg’s words, Cuomo is ‘probably the only normal person there.’
Speculations have been rife previously, suggesting that Cuomo would enter the race only if his friend Mayor Adams chooses not to seek reelection or resigns amidst ongoing corruption allegations. That being said, Cuomo’s window of opportunity may be closing in rapidly, as the Democratic primary is scheduled for June, a mere six months from now, and the number of Democrats eying Adam’s position continues to swell.
No fewer than six Democrats, with the list featuring city comptroller Brad Lander and former city comptroller Scott Stringer, have plans to participate in the approaching June primary. Mayor Adams has already declared his intentions of running for a second term, and his corruption case seems to be accelerating. Adams, unlike many fellow Democrats, has picked a new attorney for the Southern District of New York.
A potential political quandary might unfold if Cuomo decides to run alongside Adams. The possibility stands that the pair could end up dividing the moderate and pro-Israel voting demographic, which, in turn, could enable a progressive candidate like Lander to secure a surprising victory- a scenario neither Adams nor Cuomo would favor.
Both Adams and Cuomo could be in a favorable position if the rightward shift in the city’s political leanings, as reflected in the larger vote shares in the presidential election, continues. However, the controversies they’ve had to endure might pose significant threats to their respective political hopes.
Whether the aforementioned controversies could trigger voter hesitancy remains to be seen, but it’s important to note that Cuomo would be a formidable candidate if he chooses to join the mayoral race. Cuomo’s well-established name recognition surpasses that of most of his potential rivals, barring Adams, of course.
Cuomo’s potential entry into the race might be indicative of an overarching change happening in the sphere of New York City politics. While the field remains crowded, his calculated moves of aligning himself with certain causes suggest he’s preparing to position himself uniquely to capture a distinct segment of voters.