As Adams' administration faces increased investigations, supporters of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo are “spreading rumors” that he is running for mayor, sources say.
The CEO of a prominent investment bank told other corporate executives who donate to campaign funds that the ousted former governor plans to run again for New York City mayor next year, business sources said.
“His surrogates are spreading the word. They're spreading the word that Cuomo is running,” a source briefed on the discussions said of the bank executives.
As Cuomo's mayoral bid gains momentum, Adams' approval ratings have plummeted amid multiple federal corruption investigations and the abrupt resignations over the weekend of Police Commissioner Edward Cavan and former federal prosecutor and chief counsel Lisa Zornberg.
Among the former aides and allies talking about a possible Cuomo candidacy is his former right-hand man, Melissa DeRosa.
DeRosa during an interview with Forbes Posted on Mondaysaid his phone had been “ringing off the hook” about Cuomo's candidacy.
“What people are saying is, 'He has to run, he has to run.'”
But former federal prosecutor and longtime colleague Steve Cohen told The Washington Post “absolutely not” when asked if he had informed colleagues that Cuomo was running.
A source close to Bill Marlow, the Blackstone executive who served as Cuomo's 2018 reelection campaign chairman, also said he had not told people the former governor was running.
“Many other people have encouraged me. [Cuomo] “To run,” the source added.
Cuomo resigned in disgrace in August 2021 amid numerous sexual misconduct allegations and controversy over writing a controversial commercial book about the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has denied any wrongdoing but faces impeachment proceedings if he does not resign.
He joins a slate of Democratic primary candidates who have named themselves as challengers to Adams, including Queens State Sen. Jessica Ramos, a former aide to former Mayor Bill de Blasio, Brooklyn State Sen. Zellnor Miley, city Auditor Brad Lander and former Auditor Scott Stringer.
Cuomo would be the latest politician marred by scandal to try to make a comeback.
Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who resigned amid a prostitute scandal, lost his bid for re-election as city comptroller in 2013.
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner, who resigned from his House seat amid a sexting scandal, also ran unsuccessfully again for mayor in 2013, finishing in fifth place amid further revelations about his own lewd behavior.
Governor Cuomo was heavily criticized by the House Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic for his decision to allow recovered coronavirus patients into nursing homes.
He defended the decision.
In an interview with Forbes, DeRosa said:[Cuomo] Regardless of how this administration ended, he still maintains an enormous amount of support from New York City and New York City voters.”
“That's a decision he has to make with his family,” DeRosa, who served as secretary to the governor and his top aide during his final years in office, said of running for mayor.
DeRosa suggested Tuesday that Cuomo wasn't telling people he was definitely running for City Hall, and noted in the Forbes interview that Cuomo and Adams have a good relationship.
Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi responded, “The Governor has previously said he has no plans to develop one, and nothing has changed.”
Andrew's father, Mario, ran for mayor in 1977 but lost a close race to Ed Koch.
The Washington Post previously reported that Governor Cuomo was considering making a political comeback by putting his remaining campaign funds into polling.
