Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is attempting to reshape his campaign strategy for New York City mayor after losing the Democratic primary to socialist Zoran Mamdani, according to a report from Politico. Cuomo’s recent efforts include boosting his social media presence and intensifying his criticisms of Mamdani’s campaign.
Mamdani, a New York State Senator and democratic socialist, emerged as the frontrunner in the mayoral race, defeating Cuomo and other notable candidates in the primary held on June 24th. Despite this setback, Cuomo continues to pursue the mayoral position as an independent. In a post made on social media, he expressed that New Yorkers should question Mamdani’s capability to maintain his full-time job while serving in public office.
Cuomo also made headlines in July when he labeled Mamdani a “fraud” and an “unknown lawmaker” in another social media post. His top strategist, Melissa De Rosa, criticized Mamdani as a “Nepo Baby” earlier this month, further emphasizing their attacks.
Mamdani’s background includes a notable lineage; his mother is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, while his father teaches at Columbia University. In contrast, Cuomo is the son of Mario Cuomo, who served as New York’s governor from 1983 to 1994. Recently, he playfully reminded everyone of his identity and lineage on social media, welcoming Mamdani to the political arena.
Cuomo, who is now 67, has been shifting toward using more contemporary language popular with younger voters in his campaign, as reported by Politico. Mamdani, on the other hand, is actively working to engage younger constituents through his campaign initiatives.
Former Mayor Bill de Blasio criticized Cuomo’s approach, suggesting that he appears to be experimenting with different personas rather than presenting an authentic image. De Blasio stated that there’s an expectation for politicians to be genuine, contrasting Cuomo’s methods with those of figures like Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.
Cuomo’s spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, countered de Blasio’s comments, pointing out the ex-mayor’s own inconsistencies during his time in office. Azzopardi highlighted that while de Blasio attempts to critique Cuomo, his own governance left a lot to be desired.
Cuomo held the governorship from 2011 until his resignation in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, which he has consistently denied. Mamdani remarked that the public’s clear dissent in the primary—Cuomo lost by 13 points—should not be overlooked as they move forward.
Cuomo’s bid has also faced challenges related to campaign financing set up earlier this year. Political consultant Austin Shafran noted that while criticisms of Mamdani’s experience and policies could be effective, personal attacks may not significantly impact Mamdani’s standing. A representative from Cuomo’s campaign did not respond to inquiries from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
