The New Yorker is set to witness a controversial advertising campaign targeting former Governor Andrew Cuomo as the mayoral race in New York heats up.
Ads opposing Cuomo are rolling out aggressively, with candidate Brad Lander investing a staggering $750,000 in ad buys to challenge the frontrunner in the race.
The ad raises questions, claiming, “Andrew Cuomo spent $60 million of your money to defend himself in court. It’s corrupt, but Bloodlander combats corruption,” as it accuses Lander of being involved in the “crushing” corruption of car waste.
But Lander isn’t alone in calling out Cuomo. Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist and typically a secondary candidate, is also launching significant programming against Cuomo, albeit with a relatively modest initial ad spend of $100,000.
Mamdani first unveiled his advertisement during a Knicks playoff game, later featuring it on “Saturday Night Live,” where other Assembly members delivered a similar critique.
“Corrupt politicians like Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo have betrayed us to billionaires, harming our economy,” Mamdani asserts in the video while strolling through city streets.
Cuomo, however, is ready to retaliate. His PAC, City Inc., has already put forth advertisements supporting him, amassing over $5.6 million for his campaign.
Mamdani is leveraging his funding effectively; he’s the first candidate to gather $8 million, which will support future advertising efforts.
Having raised close to $6 million in total, Lander becomes the third candidate in the Democratic primary to challenge Cuomo, joining Mamdani and Brooklyn Senator Zellner Miley.
This ad seeks to present Bloodlander as the honest and effective candidate New York City needs to confront Trump and address the chaos under Eric Adams. In stark contrast, the ad portrays Cuomo as a corrupt politician, who has overspent taxpayer money while involved in personal scandals.
Lander’s initial commercial, which represents the largest ad buy in the current mayoral race, is set to debut on Wednesday morning across various local channels, including MSNBC and NY1.
