Politico reports that at a Hamptons fundraiser last Saturday, Cuomo told his well-heeled supporters that, contrary to all available evidence, he could win the New York mayoral race as an independent—because he was likely to have the implicit support of President Donald Trump.
The imperative of defeating Mamdani justified the new coalition Cuomo is trying to create of his die-hard loyalists (who are Democrats) with Trump Republicans.
Some of that latter group might be tempted to back Curtis Sliwa, the actual GOP nominee in the race. Cuomo told these donors, “We can minimize [the Sliwa] vote, because he’ll never be a serious candidate. And Trump himself, as well as top Republicans, will say the goal is to stop Mamdani. And you’ll be wasting your vote on Sliwa.” Cuomo went on to emphasize that he’d be a mayor who could find common ground with Trump:
I don’t really understand what you’re saying, are you implying the DNC Candidate Mamdani should try to capture the moderates away from Cuomo? That’s really stupid, the DNC are absolutely mopping the floor with independent Cuomo with the current strategy, we shouldn’t change course.
My criticisms are of Cuomo. I feel that’s rather clear. The Democratic Party did a whole song and dance and was in an absolute negative uproar over Mamdani defeating their establishment candidates. Not sure where you’ve been? You can consider the DNC acceptance of Mamdani reluctant at best. Lending the DNC credit for his success is wild imo.
Bill Clinton himself publicly congratulated Mamdani for winning the DNC candidacy. Cuomo is NOT a part of the DNC.