Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed Andrew Cuomo in the city’s mayoral race, declaring his support for the former New York governor he worked alongside while in office.
Bloomberg, who served three terms as mayor from 2002 to 2013, announced his support for Cuomo on Tuesday in a statement, saying Cuomo has the experience and “government know-how” to address the problems facing the city. He overlapped as mayor with Cuomo’s time as governor, which ran from 2011 to 2021.
“History holds endless examples of friction between mayors and governors. During my 12 years in City Hall, I served with four New York governors and had differences with all of them, including Cuomo. But I also know his strengths as a leader and manager,” Bloomberg said. “Of all the candidates, Andrew has the skills our city needs to lead us forward.”
Bloomberg’s support for Cuomo makes sense as a moderate Democrat backing another moderate Democrat. But it’s still a notable get for Cuomo to officially receive the endorsement from the longtime former mayor.
Bloomberg was initially elected as a Republican in 2001 before becoming an independent during his second term. He became a Democrat in 2018, returning to the party he had been in before his mayoral run.
Bloomberg said Cuomo governed as a “pragmatist” and credited him for the redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport, opening of the 2nd Avenue Subway and creation of Moynihan Station. He said Cuomo’s more focused on solving problems than ideological warfare.
“The question before New Yorkers is not: Who is the perfect choice? No mayor is perfect,” he said. “The question is: Who is the best choice? To me, that choice is clear: Andrew Cuomo.”
The endorsement comes just two weeks ahead of the primary, in which Cuomo has been the front-runner for months, but state Assembly member Zohran Mamdani has been closing the gap and is trying to surpass him.
Cuomo said he’s “deeply honored” to have Bloomberg’s support, saying his leadership after 9/11 helped see the city rebuilt.
“Under his steady hand and with his strong management, New York City was the best run city in the country, and his leadership has been sorely missed every day since,” he said. “Today, in this critical moment as New York City faces another crisis, I appreciate Mayor Bloomberg’s support and faith in my vision for a stronger, safer, more affordable New York City for all.”
Mamdani’s campaign responded to the news by saying that billionaires are “consolidating” around Cuomo because they know he will keep the status quo, but New Yorkers are supporting Mamdani because they want a “new generation of leadership that puts working people first.”
He just received his own major endorsement when Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) announced her support for his campaign.
Bloomberg’s endorsement also comes after Cuomo received an endorsement from what may have been an unexpected source — fellow mayoral candidate and state Sen. Jessica Ramos.
Ramos has been trailing well behind in the polls, often receiving only a few percentage points in polling. She had been a critic of Cuomo and ideologically is on a different part of the spectrum than him, having a reputation as a progressive.
But she said at an event last week announcing her endorsement that only Cuomo had the “experience, knowledge and toughness” to be mayor. She has said she will stay on the ballot but is supporting the former governor.
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