Cuomo has remained in the New York City mayoral race as an independent after his defeat at the Democratic primary. (Alex Kent/Getty Images)
Cuomo’s senior adviser, Rich Azzopardi, defended the comment to the New York Post.
"Governor Cuomo would never give up on New York," he said. "The line underscored the stakes in this election and the risk of electing a dangerously inexperienced, hate-spewing 33-year-old socialist to lead the city."
Cuomo repeatedly referred to Mamdani as "the kid" during the event. He called Mamdani’s rent freeze proposal a "death sentence" for landlords and housing supply, and dismissed his platform as "unrealistic bumper sticker slogans."
Mamdani’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
ANDREW CUOMO TALKS REMATCH WITH MAMDANI, SAYS SOCIALIST'S POLICIES WILL CAUSE 'DEATH' OF NYC
Senator Bernie Sanders and NYC Democrat mayor candidate Zohran Mamdani stand in an elevator on Capitol Hill. Mamdani has allied himself with far-left members of Congress during his campaign. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The race, which also features Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, has become one of the most unconventional mayoral contests in recent memory.
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Cuomo's campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Fox News' Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
Jasmine is a writer at Fox News Digital and a military spouse. Stories can be sent to jasmine.baehr@fox.com or to @JasmineSBaehr via X.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cuomo-jokes-even-i-move-florida-mamdani-wins-nyc-mayoral-bid