Cuomo Come

The New York mayoral race takes shape

In 2026, there is probably going to be a new mayor of New York City. Eric Adams, already indicted on corruption charges, will head to trial in April unless he pleads guilty ahead of time. He could get pardoned by Donald Trump, but that will only help his legal fortunes, not his future in politics. Democratic primary voters aren’t interested in a man Trump might invite into his administration and Republicans, at least in the five boroughs, aren’t terribly keen on him, either. Denied public matching funds, Adams is likely at the end of his career in office. He is weak, and getting weaker.

Andrew Cuomo, the disgraced former governor, looms. There are reports he will enter the race next month, and one poll shows him well out ahead. Cuomo is, undoubtedly, the frontrunner. The rest of the field, absent perhaps socialist Zohran Mamdani—he once managed my state senate campaign, so you’ll have to weigh that whenever I invoke him—hasn’t excited the electorate very much. There are no A-listers, beyond Cuomo and Adams, running in this primary. This explains Cuomo’s confidence: how hard will it be to bull past a damaged incumbent and a bunch of Democrats who are far less famous than him?