Cuomo, Adams, Mamdani Face Crowded NYC Mayor Race

After losing the Democratic primary to 33-year-old progressive Zohran Mamdani, former Governor Andrew Cuomo conceded, apologized to supporters, and announced he would continue his campaign for New York City mayor as an independent. Cuomo has criticized Mamdani for lacking substantive solutions and has vowed to reset his campaign with a focus on affordability and direct voter engagement. Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist nominee, won the primary with high turnout, appealing especially to younger and more diverse voters with his platform of rent freezes, free public services, and city-owned grocery stores. The general election will include incumbent Mayor Eric Adams (now running as an independent after corruption probes), Republican Curtis Sliwa, and independent Jim Walden. Cuomo has proposed that independents back the top-polling challenger to Mamdani by September, but other candidates have not agreed. Despite diminished institutional support and a difficult path in Democrat-heavy New York, Cuomo has declared he is determined to compete.