Andrew Cuomo Kicks Off NYC Mayoral Bid with Bold Claims of Pandemic Heroism
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo stepped into the spotlight on Sunday, delivering his first public address since announcing his candidacy for mayor of New York City. Speaking at a carpenter’s union headquarters on Manhattan’s West Side, the 67-year-old wasted no time casting himself as the savior the city needs—both during its darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic and now, as it grapples with fresh challenges. Introduced by his daughters, Cuomo leaned heavily on his record, framing his leadership during the health crisis as proof he’s the man to steer the Big Apple out of its current troubles.
“COVID, my friends, was the greatest threat faced in a generation,” Cuomo declared to the crowd. “It was life and death, it was as serious as it gets and it was as scary as it gets. And New York, we had it first and we had it worst and we were on our own, and no one knew what to do? But what did we do? We came together, we stood tall, we stood strong and we faced the challenge head on.”
He painted a picture of a united New York, emphasizing collective resilience. “Everyone did their part,” he added. “And we kept this place, we kept this place running and we saved lives and we led the nation. So can we handle this challenge? You’re damned right we can.”
Cuomo, son of the late Gov. Mario Cuomo, officially threw his hat into the ring on Saturday after months of swirling rumors. His entry into an already packed field of candidates vying to oust Mayor Eric Adams instantly positions him as a heavyweight contender. With instant name recognition and early polls showing him towering over rivals, Cuomo’s campaign is off to a roaring start.
During his tenure as governor, Cuomo became a national figure amid the COVID-19 crisis, offering daily briefings that earned him praise for transparency while rolling out strict measures to curb the virus’s spread. Yet, his legacy took a hit after a controversial March 2020 order allowed thousands of COVID-positive patients into nursing homes—a decision critics link to as many as 15,000 deaths in those facilities. His team has pushed back hard, noting that lawsuits from affected families were tossed out and that multiple investigations, including three by the Department of Justice and one by the Manhattan DA, fizzled without charges.
On Sunday, Cuomo didn’t shy away from defending his pandemic record, instead doubling down on it as a credential for his mayoral bid.
“Time is short,” he warned. “We must do it now because things are getting worse. Time is not our friend.” His urgency struck a chord with supporters, who see his experience as a lifeline for a city facing rising crime and housing woes.
Meanwhile, Mayor Adams, spotted marching in Staten Island’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade the same day, brushed off questions about Cuomo’s candidacy with a quip. “I don’t know who said it, but it’s a famous quote: ‘Come one, come all,’” he told reporters. “You know, we all got to come out.”
Adams, whose own legal troubles—a bribery indictment last year that was shelved by the Trump administration, at least temporarily—haven’t scared him off, added, “We can’t hide in the shadows.”
Cuomo’s daughters also took the stage to bolster their father’s pitch. Kara Kennedy Cuomo spoke candidly about the city’s struggles. “I do not feel the sense of safety I once felt in New York, and as a person who just spent several months looking for a new apartment, I can tell you there is not enough affordable housing,” she said, echoing concerns that resonate with many New Yorkers.
Cuomo’s political comeback isn’t without baggage. He resigned as governor in 2021 amid a flurry of s*xual harassment allegations, a scandal that threatened to derail his career.
Now, as he sets his sights on City Hall, he’s betting that his pandemic-era leadership—and the loyalty of his base—will outweigh the controversies of his past. Whether that gamble pays off remains to be seen in a race already shaping up as a clash of titans.
The Fairview Gazette will keep you updated on any news regarding the New York City mayoral race.
