‘In it to Win it!’ Andrew Cuomo Announces He’s Staying in the Battle Royale for NYC Mayor

(AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his decision on Monday to run in the general election for New York City mayor — amid calls for either him or current Mayor Eric Adams to drop out and unite behind one candidacy in an effort to defeat Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.

In his campaign re-launch video posted to X on Monday, Cuomo insisted he’s the candidate best positioned to defeat Mamdani, a democratic socialist.

“The general election is in November and I am in it to win it. My opponent Mr. Mamdani offers slick slogans but no real solutions,” Cuomo said.

In an apparent effort to assuage moderates who are concerned he will split the vote with Adams and effectively hand the race to the progressive Mamdani, Cuomo — according to NewsNation’s Diana Falzone — is pledging to drop out of the race if the polls show that he is not the highest-ranked challenger to Mamdani by early September.

But for now, he’s moving forward.

“You haven’t given up on it and you deserve a mayor with the experience and ideas to make it happen again, and the guts to take on anyone who stands in the way,” Cuomo said.