2:34New York independent mayoral hopeful Andrew Cuomo is seen alongside Mayor Eric Adams in New York on Oct. 23, 2025. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images
Scarcely a month after withdrawing from the mayoral contest, struggling current Mayor Eric Adams gave his backing on Thursday to ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has been intensifying his critiques of Democratic contender state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.
Adams, who exited the race citing poor polling data and issues including a federal indictment that was later dropped, delivered the announcement the day after he and Cuomo were spotted sitting together at courtside for the New York Knicks NBA season opener at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday evening, immediately after a heated mayoral debate among Mamdani, Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
New York Mayor Eric Adams is pictured with mayoral hopeful, Andrew Cuomo during the NBA matchup between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden, October 22, 2025 in New York City.Al Bello/Getty Images
Mamdani offered a response on his various social media platforms.
"Corruption moves to courtside," he penned, sharing the photograph that Cuomo had previously posted.
Adams and Cuomo made an appearance together Thursday afternoon to publicize the endorsement.
"Am I upset that I am not the person defeating Zohran, the socialist and the communist? You bet I am," Adams stated. "But guess what? The city is more important to me than anything, and it is crucial for us as a unit to band together."
New York independent mayoral hopeful Andrew Cuomo is seen with mayor Eric Adams in New York on Oct. 23, 2025.Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images
Mamdani identifies as a democratic socialist but does not consider himself a communist.
Cuomo expressed thanks to Adams for setting aside his own aspirations to endorse him "because his concern for New York City is paramount, and he thinks Zohran represents an existential threat to New York City, and all of us must endeavor to ensure that Zohran does not become the next mayor."
Mamdani, who bested Cuomo in the primary and is leading in the polls, criticized Adams' support and connected both men to the Trump government.
New York independent mayoral hopeful Andrew Cuomo speaks next to mayor Eric Adams in New York on Oct. 23, 2025.Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images
"Furthermore, we understand that this is a form of deal-making. We are dealing with a president of this country who has publicly voiced his desire for Eric Adams to withdraw from the race. Eric Adams did withdraw. [He has] expressed his desire for candidates to unite behind Andrew Cuomo. Today, Eric Adams is throwing his support behind Andrew Cuomo," Mamdani informed reporters at an event.
Adams's indictment pertaining to bribery allegations was dismissed by the Justice Department during the spring, which then caused the resignation of numerous career federal prosecutors as a form of protest. The mayor, who had engaged in talks with White House officials after Trump came back into power, had entered a not guilty plea and refuted any wrongdoing.
Cuomo stepped down from the governor's position in 2021 amidst increasing claims of sexual harassment and investigations into his administration’s handling of deaths in nursing homes during the COVID crisis.
Cuomo denied the allegations of sexual harassment and the charges that his efforts to prevent deaths during the pandemic were lacking. No charges have been filed against the governor in either case.
Mamdani contended that Cuomo, who is campaigning on a third-party ticket following his loss in the Democratic primary, and Adams exemplify "two sides of the same damaged political system."
Adams had referred to Cuomo as a "snake" throughout the campaign and denounced the former governor concerning his various scandals throughout the summer months before Adams decided to drop out of the race. Initially, he had refused to endorse anyone, but he spoke out against Mamdani vehemently.
Cuomo has also been targeting Mamdani on a number of fronts, encompassing his lack of prior experience, connections to the Democratic Socialists of America, and statements pertaining to the Israel and Gaza situation that the former governor has insisted were antisemitic.
Mamdani has challenged these claims and pledged to advocate for every New Yorker, including the Jewish citizens of the city.
The Democratic candidate also hit out at Cuomo over recent posts and remarks made by the former governor and his campaign over the past 24 hours.
Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani participates in the second New York City mayoral debate with Independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York, on October 22, 2025.Hiroko Masuike/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Cuomo took a swipe at Mamdani during an interview that was broadcasted Thursday morning with conservative radio personality Sid Rosenberg.
"If, heaven forbid, another 9/11 happened — can you envision Mamdani in charge?" Cuomo inquired.
"I can — he would celebrate," Rosenberg responded.
Cuomo responded, apparently chuckling, "Another predicament."
Rich Azzopardi, a representative for Cuomo, conveyed to ABC News that the ex-governor "was alluding to Mamdani's intimate friend Hasan Piker, who made the remark that 'America asked for 9/11,' a claim that caused 9/11 families to request that Zohran Mamdani condemn it, which he refused to do for a matter of months."
Piker, a left-leaning streamer, later recognized that his comments were improper and were intended as satire. Mamdani has made appearances on Piker's podcast but stated during the initial mayoral debate, "I find the remarks made by Hasan regarding 9/11 to be objectionable and deplorable."
Cuomo did not mention Piker's name or his statements during the Rosenberg interview.
Mamdani was questioned on Thursday if he believed Cuomo's comments were Islamophobic.
Independent candidate, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Democratic candidate, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani participate in a second New York City mayoral debate in New York City, October 22, 2025.Hiroko Masuike/Pool via Reuters
"Indeed, I do believe that they were," he responded. "We are discussing an ex-governor who, during his last moments in public life, is resorting to rhetoric that is not only Islamophobic and racist but also repulsive and represents his concluding remarks with less than a fortnight remaining before Election Day."
Cuomo is also facing censure due to an AI-generated video that was briefly displayed on his X account during Wednesday's debate.
The subsequently removed video showcased stereotypical imagery declaring that Mamdani receives backing from criminals. The video initiates with a small watermark indicating that it is AI-generated and concludes by stating that it was "paid for by Cuomo for NYC."
Democratic candidate Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani prepares before participating in a second New York City mayoral debate, October 22, 2025 in New York City.Hiroko Masuike/Pool via Getty Images
"Zohran Mamdani's political rivals want you to be convinced that he's a novice radical whose policies will jeopardize New York City. But what are the authentic opinions of his supporters?" the video commences.
A lineup of individuals portrayed as aligning with the Democratic candidate are then showcased in a manner exhibiting stereotypes with stereotypical attire — including a Black man shoplifting and at a certain point donned in a Palestinian keffiyeh, a domestic abuser, a trespasser, a man with a van filled with prostitutes, a drunk driver, and a homeless man purchasing drugs.
Cuomo's campaign asserted that the video was an "unapproved draft" that was posted by mistake.
The Cuomo campaign has initiated the broadcasting of advertisements via online platforms and television over the past few weeks, employing AI-generated videos.
One featured a subtle jab at Mamdani's limited background, displaying Cuomo undertaking various positions such as a Wall Street broker before he stated, "I'm Andrew Cuomo, and while I could impersonate doing numerous jobs, I know what I know, and I also know what I don't know."
Another depicted former Mayor Bill de Blasio costumed and speaking as the "Austin Powers" character Dr. Evil alongside his sidekick, Mini Me, resembling Mamdani.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
