Cuomo Expects Trump Support in New York Mayoral Race

Andrew Cuomo, currently running as an independent in the 2025 New York City mayoral race, is reportedly counting on President Donald Trump and top Republicans to encourage conservative voters to back him instead of GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa in order to stop Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, a self-avowed socialist. At a private fundraiser, Cuomo suggested that Trump, whom he described as wanting 'redemption in New York,' would prefer to avoid a fight with him and may support efforts to prevent Mamdani's win, despite Cuomo publicly rejecting a Trump endorsement. While Cuomo has historically criticized Trump and lost to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, he indicated a willingness to cooperate with the president and did not deny discussions with the White House about influencing the race. Sliwa dismissed Cuomo's expectations of GOP support, criticizing Cuomo's past policies and questioning Republicans' willingness to back him. Cuomo's campaign spokesman characterized the comments as speculative, emphasizing that Cuomo is not seeking help from anyone. The dynamic highlights Cuomo's strategic pivot amid polling deficits and the broader contest's ideological divide between Mamdani's socialism and Cuomo's independent bid.