Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani takes the stage at his primary night victory party on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 in New Yor City. (Heather Khalifa/AP Photo)
With his victory over Cuomo and nine other Democratic candidates, Mamdani sent political shockwaves across the country, and took a big step towards becoming the first Muslim mayor of the nation's most populous city.
Cuomo, the three-term governor who resigned from office in 2021 amid multiple scandals and who was aiming for a political comeback, had been the frontrunner in the mayoral primary race for months until Mamdani closed the gap in the closing weeks of the campaign.
MAMDANI'S POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE ROCKS DEMOCRATS
Mamdani will face off in November against Republican Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the volunteer crime-fighting patrols known as the Guardian Angels. Sliwa is the GOP nominee for a second straight election cycle.
New York City mayor Eric Adams and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo have each asked each other to drop out of the New York City mayoral race. (Andrea Renault/Star Max/GC Image; Alex Kent/Getty Images)
And in an interview with CNBC, Adams said that in a recent conversation, the former governor asked him to step aside.
"I said, 'Andrew, are you that level of arrogant? I'm the sitting mayor!'" Adams said of his conversation with Cuomo. "I'm the sitting mayor of New York City when you just lost to Zohran by 12 points."
"They heard your message. You lost," Adams added. "That’s the highest level of arrogance."
THESE DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T ENDORSED MAMDANI, BUT THEY'RE DEFENDING HIM AGAINST TRUMP
Adams' poll numbers were sinking even before he was indicted last year on five counts, which accused the mayor of bribery and fraud as part of an alleged "long-running" scheme to personally profit from contacts with foreign officials.
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in a speech to supporters, acknowledges that rival Zohran Mamdani 'won' the New York City Democratic Party mayoral primary, on June 24, 2025 in New York, N.Y. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
"This is the time to put aside the usual political selfishness and agree to do what is truly best for all New Yorkers," Azzopardi added. "While we review this proposal, we call on other candidates to do the same."
Mamdani surged to a primary victory thanks to an energetic campaign that put a major focus on affordability and New York City's high cost of living.
Endorsements from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — New York City's most prominent progressive — and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the two-time Democratic presidential runner-up, helped Mamdani solidify support on the left.
Mamdani made smart use of social media platforms, including TikTok, as he engaged low-propensity voters. He proposed eliminating fares to ride New York City's vast bus system, making CUNY (City University of New York) "tuition-free," freezing rents on municipal housing, offering "free childcare" for children up to age 5, and setting up government-run grocery stores.
And thanks in part to the efforts of a massive grassroots army of volunteers, he rode a wave of support from younger and progressive voters to catapult into first place.
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Mamdani's victory has reignited long-standing debates within the Democratic Party between its more moderate and progressive wings, and between outsiders and the establishment.
And it's reignited the debate over whether the party's policy, or messaging, was to blame for last November's election setbacks, when Democrats lost control of the White House and Senate, and failed to win back the House majority.
Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cuomo-adams-trade-shots-over-who-should-drop-out