Cuomo disregards NYC mayor's labeling him as a 'snake and liar', claims Mamdani will further Trump's takeover
In the bustling political landscape of New York City, the mayoral race has taken an unexpected turn as contenders Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani find themselves at odds.
The tension between the two candidates began to brew weeks ago, with reports suggesting that Cuomo was in talks to join the Trump administration. However, the announcement made on Friday was intended to put an end to such speculation.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump's preference for a head-to-head matchup with Mamdani has complicated the race. Trump has publicly expressed his preference for a contest between Mamdani and Cuomo, a fact confirmed by the Mamdani campaign.
Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary by 12 points, has not shied away from his criticism of Mamdani. He referred to Mamdani as "President Trump's dream candidate," a "terrorist sympathizer," and "anti-police."
In response, Dora Pekec, the Mamdani campaign spokesperson, labelled Cuomo as "Donald Trump's takeover." She stated, "Andrew Cuomo is Donald Trump's takeover."
The exchange has led to a series of heated exchanges between the two candidates. Cuomo told donors that the goal is to stop Mamdani and that voting for Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa would be a waste. On the other hand, Mamdani is expected to appear with Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont at a rally at Brooklyn College on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Adams made critical remarks towards Cuomo on Friday, calling him a "snake and a liar." Cuomo's statement contradicts his earlier denial of being in talks with the president. However, Politico New York obtained audio of him telling donors about the president's and top Republicans' desire to stop Mamdani.
Cuomo, when questioned, stated that he stopped listening to Mayor Adams a long time ago and so did New York City. Andrew Cuomo attended the city's Labor Day march on Saturday, further emphasizing his continued presence in the political sphere.
As the race heats up, Zohran Mamdani remains well ahead in recent polls. The mayoral race in New York City promises to be an interesting spectacle in the coming weeks.
