Cuomo Pledges Exit if Not Top Challenger in Race

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced an independent bid for New York City's mayoral race after losing the Democratic primary to progressive Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani by over 12 points. Cuomo apologized for his underwhelming primary campaign and pledged to run a more aggressive general election effort. Moderate and business leaders worry that multiple centrist and right-leaning candidates, including incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa, could split the anti-Mamdani vote. To address these concerns, Cuomo has promised to withdraw from the race by mid-September if he is not the top-polling challenger, though other candidates have not agreed to this plan. Mamdani, riding momentum from his primary victory, has criticized Cuomo and Adams for seeking support from wealthy donors, positioning his campaign as focused on working New Yorkers. Polls indicate Mamdani currently leads, followed by Cuomo, with Sliwa and Adams trailing.