New York City Mayor Eric Adams made headlines by endorsing former Governor Andrew Cuomo for mayor.
According to ABC7 New York, Adams and Cuomo appeared together at an event in Harlem, where the mayor embraced the former governor and called for unity despite their past public spats. “Sometimes brothers fight,” Adams said, addressing their complicated history. “But this is going to be a raw-knuckle fight on the streets, one block at a time, one building at a time. Now it’s time to fight for the family, and I’m going to fight for the family with Andrew Cuomo as the next mayor of New York City.”
Adams recently ended his own reelection campaign after polls showed he had no clear path forward. On Thursday, he said his endorsement was not about personal gain but about protecting what he sees as the city’s future. “Am I angry that I’m not the one taking down Zohran, the socialists, and the communists? You’re darn right I am,” he admitted. “But the city means more to me than anything, and it is time for us as a family to come together.”
Cuomo, running as an independent after his primary defeat, thanked Adams for the endorsement and called it an act of political selflessness. “The mayor put his own ambition aside because he cares more about New York City,” Cuomo said. “He believes Zohran is an existential threat to New York City, and we all have to do our best to make sure Zohran does not become the next mayor.”
The endorsement came less than 24 hours after a fiery debate featuring Cuomo, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, who leads in most polls, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. In a statement following the endorsement, Mamdani accused both Cuomo and Adams of representing outdated politics. “Today confirms what we’ve long known: Andrew Cuomo is running for Eric Adams’ second term,” he said. “It’s no surprise to see two men who share an affinity for corruption and capitulation align themselves at the behest of the billionaire class. We are going to turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas.”
Cuomo remains Mamdani’s top challenger heading into the November 4, 2025 election, with early voting beginning October 25. Polls still show Mamdani with a lead as he grounds his campaign in affordability, democracy, and government accountability. With growing grassroots support and backing from faith leaders, Mamdani is positioning himself as a candidate who can unite a divided city. If he wins, he would become the first Muslim-American mayor in New York City’s history.