Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani responded to a report that Andrew Cuomo is staying in the New York City mayoral race during an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett on Wednesday night.
According to reporting by CNN, Cuomo will remain on the November general election ballot and will not withdraw by Friday’s deadline. Although Cuomo conceded the Democratic primary to Mamdani, he will retain his spot on the “Fight & Deliver” ballot line, keeping open the option to challenge Mamdani and Mayor Eric Adams, running as an Independent, in the fall.
Burnett asked Mamdani if the report surprised him.
“Ultimately, Andrew’s decision or my decision matters less than the decision the voters already took on Tuesday night,” he replied. “What we saw from Bay Ridge to Dyker Heights to Harlem to Washington Heights, we saw a mandate delivered for a new generation of leadership. And I’m so proud and excited to build on that mandate and ever-expanding coalition.”
Mamdani then listed three endorsements by members of New York’s Jewish political contingency. Mamdani’s success in the Democratic primary also came despite his defiant stance against Israel, which led to accusations of antisemitism that he refuted.
The progressive continued on CNN, “that includes the endorsement of Congressman Jerry Nadler, State Senator Brad Holyman-Sigal, and soon-to-be New York City Comptroller Mark Levine. And that is a coalition that will expand through November.”
Sources told CNN that Cuomo’s team believes the broader general electorate could be more receptive to his candidacy than primary voters.
When asked if he was “worried” about a re-do, Mamdani said, “We did it once and it turned out pretty well.”
On Wednesday, New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul directly avoided saying whether she will back Mamdani in the upcoming election for New York City mayor.
Mamdani landed the backing of Democratic U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and independent U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and was largely unknown when he announced his intent to run.
The assemblyman’s win could trigger panic buttons for Senators like Chuck Schumer and other Democratic establishment leaders alike, as some pollsters argue that New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed Mamdani, could challenge Schumer’s Senate seat.
When asked during a news conference Thursday if she will support Mamdani’s candidacy and if she will back him, Hochul replied, “You know, the election just completed, I had a chance to call and congratulate him on the Tuesday’s primary and look forward to having conversation.
“Obviously, there’s areas of difference in our positions,” Hochul added, “but I also think we need to have those conversations, but in the meantime, I truly am not focused on the politics. We’re six months away from inauguration day, and that’ll determine who I’m working with for the next four years. And that’s important, and what I’m doing, I’m focusing on affordability, and making New York City safe, and making the state safe. So that’s my primary objective right now.”
Hochul was then pressed in a follow-up question on whether she is “skeptical” of Mamdani and the will of New York City Democratic primary voters. “No, I don’t see how you could possibly conclude that from what I just said,” Hochul fired back.
“I said that I’m going to be having conversations, I want to find out you know positions on specific issues, but in the meantime, I’m working closely with Mayor Eric Adams, who is the mayor. Who, we have a lot of work to do to get through you know a crisis right now. We just had a lot of people in our city, you know, under siege with excessive temperatures; we have to keep making sure our subways are safe, building more housing under ‘City of Yes,’ which we were able to get over the finish line.
The governor added, “So as much as there’s a lot of people perhaps even in this room, who are very focused on the politics, I don’t have the luxury to do that. I focus on governing and delivering for New Yorkers and working with people that are in government today.”
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
Update: 6/26/25, 8 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
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