Patterson Calls for Adams or Cuomo to Step Aside in Mayoral Race

Former New York Governor David Patterson shared his experience of receiving a barrage of hostile calls from supporters of Zohran Mamdani after he suggested that either Eric Adams or Andrew Cuomo should withdraw from the mayoral race.

“I received a rather aggressive call from a Mamdani supporter. It was an uncomfortable interaction,” he told John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM.

“They called my house, reached out to my wife. Those 48 hours post-press conference were pretty tough,” Patterson added.

Patterson reiterated his belief that for Mamdani to be effectively challenged, either Cuomo or Adams must step aside. Mamdani, who recently pulled off a surprising victory in the Democratic mayoral primary, has stirred the political pot considerable.

“If both Cuomo and Adams stay in the race, it essentially opens the door for Mamdani to win in November,” Patterson stated.

He suggested there could be a way to resolve the situation regarding these candidates, noting, “We need to decide who should run against the real challenge.”

Reports indicate that Cuomo is likely to announce this week that he will continue his campaign as an independent. Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and grew up in Queens, managed to defeat Cuomo in the Democratic primary.

Meanwhile, Mayor Adams is also working towards re-election as an independent candidate.

On another note, Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, is running on the Republican ticket.

The rise of Mamdani, a Muslim candidate, has unsettled established political norms in New York City.

Patterson expressed his concerns about Mamdani, recalling his initial appeal as a young candidate with fresh ideas. However, he questioned Mamdani’s ability to enact real change.

He referenced Mamdani’s reaction to the murder of George Floyd in a police confrontation in 2020, where Mamdani had commented, “It was a shame it had to happen, but it had to happen.” Patterson critiqued this view, saying, “That’s not how change occurs in this country—through riots.”

To effectively counter Mamdani, Patterson believes either Adams or Cuomo should step aside.

“If they can’t withdraw and Mamdani wins, they’ll face significant backlash,” he said. “It’s really on these candidates to consider their position.” He added, “It might not be fair to demand they leave, but what happens if they stay?”