Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is reportedly on the verge of declaring his candidacy for New York City mayor, just as candidates begin gathering the required signatures to secure a place on the June primary ballot.
Cuomo, 67, has remained tight-lipped about his potential bid, but speculation has been mounting throughout the week that an official decision is imminent.
According to a report from The New York Times on Tuesday, citing four individuals with knowledge of the matter, an announcement from Cuomo could come as early as this weekend.
Sources close to the former governor have suggested that early March has been targeted for the launch, which is expected to feature a campaign video to formally introduce his bid.
Meanwhile, Politico reported that a well-known Democratic donor is planning to host a “reception” for Cuomo at his Upper East Side home on March 4. The invitation for the event does not explicitly refer to it as a fundraiser.
1010 WINS has reached out to Cuomo’s representatives for a statement regarding his possible run.
This development coincides with the official start of the petitioning process on Tuesday. To qualify for the ballot, candidates must collect thousands of signatures before the April 3 deadline. If Cuomo enters the race, he will face the same challenge of securing the necessary support within the next few weeks.
Reports indicate that Cuomo has been making calls to political figures across New York City’s boroughs, as well as reaching out to union leaders. According to Politico, he is expected to receive his first major labor endorsement from the New York City District Council of Carpenters.
A recent poll conducted by the Honan Strategy Group from Feb. 22 to Feb. 23 surveyed likely Democratic primary voters and found Cuomo leading the field with 38% support. State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani followed in second place with 12%, while incumbent Mayor Eric Adams trailed with 10%.
At a press conference on Monday, Adams confirmed that his campaign is in full swing, with teams actively collecting signatures for his reelection bid amid a challenging period for his administration.
“Petitions will be in the streets,” Adams stated. “So please, if you see one with my name on it, please sign it.”
When asked about Rep. Ritchie Torres of the Bronx endorsing Cuomo’s potential run, Adams pointed out that Torres had previously called for Cuomo’s resignation in 2021 when the former governor faced allegations of harassment.
“I don’t know what happened differently now,” Adams remarked.
“Campaign is going to take care of itself,” Adams continued. “This is all, this is all the craziness of a campaign season and my job is to run the city and I’m going to continue to do that.”
{Matzav.com}