Former Governor Urges Cuomo and Adams to Withdraw from NYC Mayoral Race to Prevent Mamdani Win

Former New York Governor David Paterson has called for Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams to step aside in the upcoming mayoral race, warning their continued participation could allow Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani to secure victory.

Paterson explained that after publicly suggesting that Cuomo and Adams withdraw, he received a barrage of hostile calls and messages from Mamdani supporters, even reaching his home and family. Despite the negative backlash, he doubled down on his stance, emphasizing that Mamdani’s surprising primary win shook the city’s political landscape.

“If Cuomo and Adams both stay in, it creates an opening for Mamdani to win in November,” Paterson stated. “The best way to block Mamdani’s rise is for one of these candidates to withdraw from the race.”

While he refrained from ordering anyone out, Paterson argued it’s a matter of strategic choice. He criticized Mamdani’s past comments, including his reaction to George Floyd’s death, which Paterson suggested reveal a misguided approach to societal change.

“Mamdani once said, ‘It’s too bad it had to happen, but it had to happen,’ implying acceptance of violence, which I believe is unhelpful in this climate,” Paterson remarked. “We need leadership that promotes constructive change, not rioting.”

Meanwhile, Cuomo is expected to announce his intention to run as an independent, a move that could further complicate the race. Mamdani has already made headlines by defeating Cuomo in the Democratic primary, and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams continues his campaign as an independent candidate.

Paterson emphasized that the critical issue remains whether Cuomo or Adams will exit the race to prevent Mamdani from winning, warning that any extension of their campaigns could lead to Mamdani’s victory and subsequent criticism of the city’s electoral process.