Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday that he is running for mayor of New York City, relaunching his political career following a yearslong exile over a barrage of harassment accusations. In a 17-minute video announcing his campaign, Cuomo pitched himself as an accomplished moderate who could save a city that felt threatening and “out of control,” and is capable of navigating the delicate balance between working with Republican President Donald Trump and fighting him, when necessary. “I am not saying this is going to be easy. It won’t be easy, but I know we can turn the city around and I believe I can help and that is why I announce my candidacy today for mayor of New York City today,” he said. The Democrat is expected to mount a formidable campaign, despite entering the race deeply wounded by the scandal that forced his resignation from the governor’s office in 2021. He takes on a large field of primary opponents with low name recognition plus an incumbent, Mayor Eric Adams, who — for now — remains under indictment on federal corruption charges, and under scrutiny from critics who question his independence from Trump. Cuomo enters the race with fundraising prowess, a record of accomplishments over his three terms as governor and potential support among many of the same moderate voters who helped propel Adams to office. Yet it is unclear whether voters are willing to give Cuomo another chance following his remarkable downfall 3 1/2 years ago, when he went from being hailed for his leadership during the onslaught of COVID-19 to being castigated for his behavior with women and questioned about his response to the pandemic. In his campaign video, Cuomo acknowledged past “mistakes” but didn’t directly mention the harassment allegations. “Did I always do everything right in my years of government service? Of course not,” he said. “Would I do some things differently knowing what I know now — certainly. Did I make mistakes, some painfully? Definitely, and I believe I learned from them and that I am a better person for it and I hope to show that every day.” Adams, caught on a city street by a Politico reporter after Cuomo’s announcement, welcomed the former governor to the race. “Come one, come all. Everybody should put their position forward. I have a great record to run on. We look forward to the campaign,” he said. The mayor’s race already has several candidates vying to beat Adams in the June Democratic primary. Among them are city Comptroller Brad Lander, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, state Sen. Jessica Ramos, state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and former city Comptroller Scott Stringer, who was a frontrunner in the mayor’s race four years ago until a woman accused him of groping and kissing her without her consent 20 years earlier. Ramos in a statement called Cuomo a “corrupt bully” who “brings nothing to this race but baggage.” Myrie said New York shouldn’t be forced to relive “the Andrew Cuomo show.” “We deserve better than selfish leaders who spent decades in office putting their desire for power above New Yorkers’ needs.” Adams is also seeking reelection but is facing a tempest over the criminal case against him, and the U.S. Justice Department’s extraordinary effort to end the case over the objection of […]