Political Influencers Urge Cuomo to Withdraw from Mayoral Race

Hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman has jumped into the political fray, calling on Andrew Cuomo to publicly step back from the New York City mayoral race, despite his name still being on the ballot.

Cuomo is set to appear in the upcoming November elections as a representative of the “Fight and Deliver Party,” a party he established just last May. This comes after he lost the Democratic primary to 33-year-old state legislator Zoran Mamdani. Mamdani officially declared victory on Tuesday, following the ranked-choice voting system.

Ackman shared his thoughts on social media, suggesting that Mamdani, a democratic socialist, perhaps isn’t genuinely interested in becoming mayor. He believes that removing Cuomo from the ballot could enhance Democrat Eric Adams’ chances for re-election.

The billionaire mentioned he met both Adams and Cuomo earlier this week to assess the competition they face.

“In essence, my conclusion is that Adams has the potential to win future elections, and Cuomo should consider stepping aside to improve his odds,” Ackman stated. “I acknowledge Cuomo’s contributions to New York, but…”

He continued, “His demeanor and low energy, coupled with his indication that he isn’t fully committed to the race, were quite evident.”

The deadline for candidates to withdraw from the November ballot passed last Friday, and Cuomo has shown no signs of backing down. Current polling suggests that if he remains in the race, he is ahead of Adams and neck-and-neck with Mamdani.

“Everyone is entitled to their political beliefs. President Trump recognizes this; he backs Eric Adams and sees socialism as not the solution,” commented Cuomo campaign spokesman Rich Azzopaldi this week. “Most New Yorkers aren’t extreme in either direction. The majority fall somewhere in between.”

Azzopaldi added, “We will continually assess the situation for the best interests of New York City residents.”

Recent opinion polls indicate that while all candidates plan to participate, Cuomo is polling at 29%, on par with Mamdani, who has about 35.2%. Adams is currently trailing behind, ranking fourth with 16.1% compared to Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa’s 13.8%.

Rev. Al Sharpton, a noted New York activist, has also voiced support for Mamdani but encouraged Cuomo to bow out. “I think it would be beneficial for Cuomo’s legacy to have a direct competition between the candidates,” Sharpton stated on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

“He could support one over the other and let them battle for the betterment of New York,” he added.

This growing pressure comes in the wake of Cuomo suggesting last month that he would “assess the scenery” regarding a potential independent candidacy.