Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, an NYC mayoral candidate, right, criticized President Donald Trump on Saturday night for striking Iran without congressional approval. (Getty Images)
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned from office in 2021 following allegations of sexual harassment, has emerged as the frontrunner in a crowded field vying for the Democratic nomination.
CUOMO'S LEAD SHRINKS WITH UNDER ONE WEEK UNTIL NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL PRIMARY: POLL
Following the United States' successful strikes on Iran Saturday night, Cuomo acknowledged, "Iran cannot have nuclear capability," and admitted that eliminating Iran's nuclear capacity "is in everyone's best interest."
However, Cuomo joined the barrage of Democrats criticizing Trump for striking Iran without congressional approval. Reps. Thomas Massie, a Republican, and Ro Khanna, a Democrat, who proposed the bipartisan War Powers Resolution with 49 co-sponsors as of Sunday, called Trump green-lighting strikes against Iran "unconstitutional."
Congress has the sole power to declare war under Article I of the Constitution.
"I don't support the way he did it. I do believe he should have consulted Congress," Cuomo, who secured an endorsement from former President Bill Clinton over the weekend, said in a statement.
NYC comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander arrives to speak at a rally after being released from ICE detention on June 17, 2025 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Additionally, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who has cross-endorsed Mamdani as they attempt to consolidate support against Cuomo within the ranked-choice voting style, said during a Working Families Party unity rally Sunday, "Jewish New Yorkers and Muslim New Yorkers are not going to be divided against each other."
On Sunday night, Lander, who is Jewish, dissed "Trump’s reckless & unconstitutional strikes against Iran" as a "dangerous escalation of war" that "threaten countless Iranian, Israeli & American lives."
Democratic mayoral candidates who will also appear on Tuesday's ballot include former Comptroller Scott Stringer, educator Selma Bartholomew, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, state Sen. Jessica Ramos, investor and editor at Stansberry Research Whitney Tilson, former State Assembly Member Michael Blake and content creator and music artist Paperboy Prince.
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The Democratic nominee will face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an Independent.
Former federal prosecutor Jim Walden is also running as an Independent, and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa will once again be the Republican nominee.
Fox News' Jess Loker contributed to this report.
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-york-city-high-alert-democrat-mayoral-primary-after-us-strikes-iran