Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is solidifying his standing as a pro-Israel politician with the New York City mayoral race just months away.
Cuomo joined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s legal team, which is fighting war crime charges from the International Criminal Court, and recently called out the New York Times for its coverage of the murder of a Dubai rabbi.
The tactics could be a plan from Cuomo to garner support from the Jewish and pro-Israel community in New York City in a bid to lead the Big Apple, though he’d have to fight through a crowded Democratic field.
When asked about Cuomo’s plans, a spokesperson didn’t deny he would run for mayor and touted his past accomplishments.
“This is all premature,” Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi told the Washington Examiner. “But New Yorkers know it was Governor Cuomo who raised wages for hundreds of thousands of workers, codified Roe v. Wade into state law before the Supreme Court overturned it, put the strongest gun protections, and paid family leave laws in the nation on the books and built projects previously declared impossible, such as the Moynihan train station, the new LaGuardia and JFK airport, the Second Avenue subway and the Kosciuszko Bridge, all while cutting taxes and reining in spending.”
Cuomo spoke at an event for the National Committee for the Advancement of Jewish Education on Sunday. “This is the moment that counts,” he said. “This is the moment that is going to be in the history books. … This is the moment that true friends stand up, shoulder to shoulder, and fight for the state of Israel.”
According to Jewish Insider, some Jewish leaders and political observers believe Cuomo will run for mayor. Leon Goldberg, an Orthodox business leader in Brooklyn and an ally of Mayor Eric Adams, told the outlet he would “seriously” consider looking at Cuomo if he decided to enter the race.
“He’s probably the only normal person there,” he said.
Past speculation has been that Cuomo would only enter the race if Adams, who Cuomo considers a friend, declines to run for reelection or resigns under the weight of his corruption charges. However, it’s possible that time is running out for Cuomo.
The Democratic primary is held in June, about six months from now, and the field of Democrats aiming for Adams’s office continues to grow. At least six Democrats, including city comptroller Brad Lander and former city comptroller Scott Stringer, will run in June’s primary.
Adams has already said he will run for reelection, and his corruption case appears to be heading in the right direction with the election of Donald Trump. Adams has been more friendly to Trump than most Democrats, and Trump appointed a new Southern District of New York attorney.
But if Cuomo runs along with Adams, they could split the moderate and pro-Israel vote, allowing a challenger like progressive Lander to triumph, an outcome neither likely wants.
A rightward shift in the city, indicated by larger vote shares for Trump in the presidential election, is good for Adams and Cuomo. But both have sustained enough controversy to damage their respective hopes.
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Whether that’s enough for voters to shy away from them is another story, but Cuomo would be a major contender if he decided to enter the mayoral race. His name recognition alone dwarfs most contenders outside of Adams.
Cuomo’s entry into the race could reflect a larger shift in New York City politics. Rep.-elect George Latimer defeated Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) in New York’s 16th congressional District, riding his pro-Israel sentiment to a decisive victory over the skeptical-on-Israel Bowman.
