The Black Queens Legislators coalition supported Mayor Andrew Cuomo's comeback bid for Council President Adrienne Adams.
The approval by the group of eight is a Cuomo coup, an Adrian Adams retreat and the b-responsibility of the city's second black mayor.
Most of the city and state legislators come from or near the Speaker Grass of Southeast Queens, but make Cuomo the first choice in the ranked choice Democratic primary.
“The attempt at a comeback from Andrew Cuomo is nothing but surprising,” Sen. James Sanders, a member of the Union, said on Saturday.
However, most were also ranked second in the Adrienne Adams.
Although no other candidates were ranked, some candidates in the group said Brooklyn Sen. Zellner Miley was ranked third, while others said they didn't rank him.
The group interviewed eight mayoral candidates last weekend before making a decision.
“We told the candidates, 'Who can take us out of this crisis in New York City? It's best to guide us through these problematic oceans,” Sanders told the Post.
Sanders said Adrian Adams was hurt by a late entry into the race that came two weeks ago. Cuomo announced his candidacy on March 1st, but there was a long-standing shadow campaign. That viability wins the Union, Sanders said.
“If Speaker Adams had previously raced, she could have been our first choice. The cruel mathematics of the campaign prefers people who raced before,” he said.
The primary election will be held on June 24th, with an early voting week.
Sanders' Cuomo's support has raised eyebrows since he came out and spoke to Adrian Adams' recent campaign kickoff for the mayor. And Lupe Todd, a spokesman for Adrienne Adams, noted that Sanders didn't appear in the rally kickoff of the speaker's campaign.
“It's a really rich guy from an elected official who showed up at Adrian's announcement and spoke for 17 minutes,” Todd said.
Cuomo's campaign carefully turned its eyes to the mayor and the entrance to Adrian Adams, who has no connection to the mayor, as a potential threat to strip off the votes of African Americans at the primary.
Cuomo resigned as governor in 2021 under the threat of perpetrators amid accusations of sexual misconduct that he denied.
His scandalized third term as state chief executive, particularly the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic — came up during the interview, lawmakers said.
But Cuomo's overall record as a governor and manager's experience has overturned the negatives, said Congressman Clyde Vannell.
“Cuomo is an outstanding manager and a visionary leader. He is the person he needs in the future,” Vannell said.
Vanel emphasized that ranked Adrienne Adams was also a “big deal” of ranked choices, but others admitted it to be negative, with the speaker not even having united support in their own backyard.
State Sen. Leroy Comley admitted that Cuomo was the coalition's first choice, but the vote was not unanimous.
“The group supported Cuomo, but I didn't. I disagreed. I support Adrian,” Comilly said.
The screening committee also included council members Khaleel Anderson, Lorinda Hooks, Alicia Hyndman, Councilwomen Selvena Brooks Powers and Nantasha Williams.
“It's sad to see elected officials support the former governor who closed schools and hospitals in southeast Queens,” Todd said.
“From the start, I knew that Cuomo camp would use pressure and threats as Adrian is the biggest threat to his comeback tour. If they want to waste their time doing politics, that's it,” she added.
Other candidates interviewed were Senator Jessica Ramos and Zellner Miley, Director Brad Lander and his predecessor, Scott Stringer. Congressman Zoran Mamdani and former Congressman Michael Blake.
The Cuomo campaign did not comment.
