Langone Claims Cuomo Could Beat Mamdani in NYC Mayoral Race
Ken Langone, a prominent Republican figure, has suggested that former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo might be able to defeat Zoran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor. Langone expressed his views during a CNBC appearance on Tuesday, stating he believes Cuomo might not take Mamdani seriously and could potentially lack the vigorous campaigning needed for success.
Despite this, Langone contended that Cuomo has a better chance of winning against Mamdani than current Mayor Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent alongside Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Langone mentioned, “I think Cuomo’s one-on-one heartbeat is the best,” emphasizing that if Cuomo wins, he needs to demonstrate that he can not only secure the position but also effectively address the city’s challenges.
Langone’s remarks surfaced following Cuomo’s announcement of his independent run after his Democratic primary defeat. Cuomo pointed out that only a small fraction—13%—of New Yorkers participated in the primary, which he argues makes the voters in the general election more representative of the city’s populace.
He criticized Mamdani, claiming he offers catchy slogans but lacks real solutions, asserting he’s determined to win. In his announcement video, Cuomo leaned on his extensive political experience, stating, “You deserve a mayor with the experience and ideas to make it happen again.”
The upcoming election is shaping up to be a five-way contest featuring Cuomo, Mamdani, Adams, Sliwa, and independent Jim Walden. Some of Mamdani’s rivals are urging candidates to withdraw in favor of those who can most effectively challenge him in the general election, but both Adams and Sliwa have stated they won’t drop out.
Cuomo has shown support for the idea that only the candidates best suited to take on Mamdani should continue their campaigns. Early polling indicates that while Mamdani is ahead, Cuomo remains a close second.
Langone expressed skepticism about Adams’s chances against either Mamdani or Cuomo, suggesting that Cuomo learned a valuable lesson from his primary defeat. “He didn’t do himself justice by how he thought in the primary,” Langone remarked, acknowledging that while things didn’t go as planned, the past can’t be changed.
