Support for Andrew Cuomo is coming from notable figures previously aligned with former Republican mayor Rudy Giuliani, particularly in relation to Curtis Sliwa, the GOP nominee for mayor, as reported by the Post.
Joe Rota, who was Giuliani’s vice mayor and ran as a Republican candidate for mayor in 2013, expressed his backing for Cuomo, emphasizing his experience in governance, particularly with the MTA.
Rota remarked, “It’s a choice between a proven manager, a socialist, or a fruit loop,” pointing out his party switch from Republican to Democrat. “Of course I’m going with Andrew.”
Antony Carbonetti, who was Giuliani’s chief of staff and advised in the 2008 presidential race, has also voiced support for Cuomo. He noted the necessity of rallying against frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, and suggested that Cuomo could attract votes that might otherwise go to Sliwa.
“Curtis is a great New Yorker, but the numbers aren’t in his favor,” Carbonetti mentioned, reflecting on the current political landscape. While he previously supported Sliwa, he now sees the stakes as much too high, especially with Mamdani positioning himself strongly as a candidate.
He expressed concerns regarding Mamdani’s proposal for a free bus fare program, suggesting it could result in buses turning into “mobile homeless shelters.”
In a notable opinion piece, former GOP US Attorney General Mike Mukasey, a key figure during George Bush’s presidency and a longtime associate of Giuliani, endorsed Cuomo as well. Mukasey shared his evolution from a dedicated Republican voter for 40 years to a supporter of Cuomo, stressing that the priority for Republicans should be to prevent any potential harm to the city.
Mukasey argued that Cuomo stands as the most viable alternative to Mamdani, particularly given recent developments with Mayor Eric Adams not seeking reelection.
Additionally, President Trump has criticized Sliwa, indicating he views Cuomo as a more formidable opponent than the “Communist” Mamdani. He stated that, as a Republican, Curtis Sliwa isn’t exactly the ideal candidate.
In response, the Sliwa campaign has dismissed the support from Giuliani’s former circle. Campaign adviser Rob Cole pointed out that Rota has been a Democrat since 2016 and previously worked with Cuomo, implying that this backing holds little weight.
As it stands, Giuliani has not publicly supported any candidates in this race, according to his spokesperson. Polls currently show Mamdani leading Cuomo by nearly 20 points, while Sliwa trails behind. Yet, Mamdani has not secured more than 50% of the vote, and there has been no announcement of a general election investigation post-Adams’ withdrawal from the race.
