By Abi John
NEW YORK — Andrew Cuomo was a cable TV candidate in a TikTok world.
He launched a doomed bid for New York City mayor with a 17-minute announcement video, giving little heed to today’s short attention spans and signaling a retro approach befitting a politician who entered public life nearly fifty years ago.
Throughout his 17-week campaign, Cuomo was considered the frontrunner. He quickly raised substantial funds, as did a super PAC supporting him. His ads dominated television and radio, he relied on establishment endorsements, and he leaned heavily on his distinguished political name to mobilize voters.
But while Democrats sought change, Cuomo’s campaign felt like a step backward. He attempted to rehabilitate his image from the sexual harassment and COVID-19 scandals that led to his resignation — yet offered no real contrition. His message of managerial competence was better suited for a general election than a progressive Democratic primary.
His opponent, 33-year-old socialist Zohran Mamdani, emphasized affordability and connected with voters through engaging social media content. Cuomo’s traditional approach completely failed to resonate.
Cuomo’s campaign often projected gloom, portraying New York City as unsafe and chaotic, while Mamdani struck a hopeful tone. Cuomo criticized his rival’s lack of experience but failed to present a compelling vision for the future.
He also showed little understanding of the city he once governed from afar. Avoiding public transportation, he traveled in a black Dodge Charger, an odd choice in a city where transit issues are always central to elections. He even stumbled over a local breakfast order, calling it a “bacon, cheese and egg.” Most of his advisers were based outside the city, and he only registered to vote in New York City in 2024 after decades living elsewhere.
In many ways, Cuomo ran like an aging rock star on a farewell tour, highlighting past achievements such as LaGuardia Airport’s renovation, while Mamdani spoke about making the city more affordable. Rather than addressing everyday economic concerns, Cuomo acted like an incumbent in an era hostile to political insiders.
“This definitely felt like a 2025 fully optimized campaign versus a 1988 campaign,” said Democratic strategist Trip Yang. “Cuomo looked like he was campaigning in black and white.”
Cuomo’s spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, defended the campaign, citing strong union support and a broad coalition of working-class backers.
Still, the operation was deeply insular. His longtime adviser Melissa DeRosa served as an unpaid strategist, shielding her involvement from campaign finance records. Few staffers had experience running citywide races, and logistical blunders were common — such as scheduling events too far apart to manage effectively in New York traffic.
Cuomo skipped public forums, avoided reporters, and relied on national podcasts instead of local outreach. As the race tightened, he became increasingly isolated, often ignoring advice from his own team.
After his stunning loss, insiders pointed to a weak ground game. One campaign worker recalled standing outside a housing complex where Cuomo expected strong support, only to find no organized effort. Nearby, Mamdani’s volunteers were canvassing energetically.
“They needed bodies and they needed a real operation,” the person said. “You can’t just assume people will turn out for you.”
By the time Cuomo’s team tried to mount a get-out-the-vote effort, it was too late. Mamdani’s grassroots campaign had already expanded the electorate in ways Cuomo’s strategists hadn’t anticipated.
When ranked-choice voting results showed him trailing Mamdani by seven points, Cuomo conceded but did not confirm whether he would continue as an independent in the general election.
Donors quickly began to distance themselves. Wealthy backers expressed frustration that Cuomo’s strategy kept him detached from voters.
“He overrelied on money and television,” said Jasmine Gripper of the Working Families Party. “He never conveyed a real vision for New York City.”
Despite months of behind-the-scenes work with labor, business, and political elites, Cuomo’s campaign seemed to lack purpose. Some insiders suggested he wasn’t truly motivated.
“His heart wasn’t fully in it,” said one person close to the campaign.
Cuomo’s message painted a grim picture of New York under Mayor Eric Adams, but voters couldn’t overlook the controversies that had defined his downfall. His assumption that voters still admired his COVID-era leadership proved misplaced. He continues to face legal challenges and federal scrutiny, all of which shadowed his mayoral bid.
Some advisers urged him to focus less on attacking Mamdani’s pro-Palestinian stance, but he persisted. His allied super PAC spent record sums emphasizing Mamdani’s anti-Israel positions, with help from major donors like Mike Bloomberg and Bill Ackman. The tactic backfired, failing to shift attention to economic issues that mattered more to voters.
In the end, Mamdani’s affordability message resonated, especially with younger and working-class New Yorkers. Cuomo, meanwhile, appeared out of step — a veteran politician in a city moving on.
His mayoral campaign, meant to redeem his legacy, instead brought his decades-long career full circle.
“He didn’t really run a campaign,” said Monica Klein, an adviser to rival candidate Zellnor Myrie. “He’s not used to being scrappy. Without the power and prestige of office, he just couldn’t make it work.”