Mayor Eric Adams’ recent withdrawal from the NYC mayoral race coincided with an increase in Andrew Cuomo’s campaign funds. According to The New York Post, Cuomo managed to quickly amass $400,000 in the short span of two days following Adams' announcement to cease his re-election bid. This quick burst of fundraising has potentially helped to inject some momentum into Cuomo's independent mayoral bid, although current polls still situate him significantly behind frontrunner Zohran Mamdani.
Cuomo’s campaign raised just under $421,000 for the previous filing deadline, matching the amount raised by Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, indicating a focus on quickly utilizing the newly available funding opportunities. "Voters are just now tuning into this race, and they want a safe city they can afford to live in, and they know Andrew Cuomo has the experience to deliver and the ability to hit the ground running on Day One," Cuomo for NYC Chairman Bill Bulrow said, as reported by The New York Post. However, despite the influx of funds, Cuomo remains behind Democratic socialist Mamdani by nearly 20 points.
As per report by ABC7NY, Zohran Mamdani, who has already reached the $8 million campaign spending limit, appeared largely unaffected by his rival’s fundraising efforts. "The momentum in this race is for a politics that looks to actually stand up to authoritarianism, not one that looks to coordinate with it," Mamdani stated. The implication being that Cuomo's donors may come with strings attached, particularly from conservative supporters of the former president.
When it comes to public endorsements, Cuomo has expressed a willingness to accept support from Mayor Adams. On the other hand, Curtis Sliwa was less enthusiastic about such an endorsement, telling ABC7NY, "Eric, if you're watching, please don't endorse me. You're the kiss of death." As the candidates focus on their campaign strategies, Cuomo’s recent fundraising boost highlights the financial competitiveness of the race, while Mamdani continues to emphasize his grassroots support, with an average donation of just $25 per contributor.
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