Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has raised a whopping $400,000 in just two days for his independent bid to become New York City mayor, capitalizing on incumbent Eric Adams’ abrupt withdrawal from the race.
The fundraising surge comes as Cuomo attempts a comeback from the political wilderness. However, dark clouds still hang over his legacy, including a damning sexual harassment scandal that forced his resignation and a catastrophic mishandling of COVID-19 in nursing homes that led to thousands of unnecessary deaths.
Cuomo, who resigned in disgrace in August 2021 amid mounting allegations of sexual misconduct, announced his mayoral campaign as an independent earlier this year.
Despite the scandals, Cuomo’s campaign reported the eye-popping two-day haul after Adams dropped out, averaging $328 per donation.
“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 in a statement obtained by the New York Post.
Over the broader filing period from August 19 to September 29, Cuomo raised a total of $940,000, with $334,000 eligible for public matching funds under New York City’s campaign finance rules, which cap individual contributions at $2,100.
This influx positions Cuomo competitively against his rivals. His two-day total nearly matches the $421,000 raised by Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa over the entire period.
Socialist Zohran Mamdani, the Democrat nominee, dismissed the haul at a press conference, saying, “I can just tell you that, thanks to the support of everyday New Yorkers, we don’t have to worry about fundraising in this race,” and noting he’d rather speak to voters than chase donors.
Despite the cash infusion, Cuomo trails badly in the polls, with only 29% support compared to Mamdani’s commanding 47% lead. Sliwa lags further behind at 11%. The race has intensified since Adams’ exit, but Cuomo’s path to victory is narrow at best.
The setback is likely due to baggage from his governorship, which includes explosive scandals that have drawn federal scrutiny and calls for criminal prosecution.
Chief among these is the sexual harassment scandal that erupted in late 2020 and ultimately toppled his administration. Multiple women accused Cuomo of inappropriate behavior, with allegations spanning from 2013 to 2020.
An independent investigation commissioned by New York Attorney General Letitia James found that Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women, including unwanted touching, groping, and retaliatory actions against those who spoke out. The U.S. Department of Justice later concluded he harassed 13 women, leading to a settlement agreement with New York state to resolve claims of a hostile work environment.
One former aide, Charlotte Bennett, settled her lawsuit against Cuomo for $450,000 earlier this year.
Cuomo has denied the allegations, with his attorney insisting he is not guilty.
Equally damning is Cuomo’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York’s nursing homes, a policy disaster that critics say contributed to over 15,000 deaths, many of which were undercounted in official reports.
In March 2020, Cuomo issued a directive requiring nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients discharged from hospitals, a move that experts argue accelerated the virus’s spread among vulnerable elderly residents.
