Context:

Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York, plans to run as an independent candidate in the New York City mayoral race following a significant defeat to democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primary. Cuomo's candidacy will be against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who also switched to running as an independent, Mamdani, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. Mamdani's victory has put the Democratic Party in a challenging position due to his controversial policies, such as increasing taxes on high earners and opposing Israel. Cuomo, who has garnered support from pro-Israel donors by advocating for Israel, is trailing behind Mamdani and other candidates in recent polls. His political history includes a scandal-plagued tenure as governor, leading to his resignation amid sexual harassment claims, which he denies while acknowledging making people uncomfortable.

Dive Deeper:

• Andrew Cuomo is running for New York City mayor as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani, a candidate with socialist views and controversial positions like higher taxes and government-run grocery stores.

• Cuomo's entry into the race will see him compete against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who also switched to an independent candidacy, Mamdani, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

• Mamdani's candidacy has created tension within the Democratic Party due to his support for policies like universal childcare funded by public money and his opposition to Israel, which contrasts with Cuomo's pro-Israel stance.

• Despite his efforts to differentiate himself from Mamdani, Cuomo is currently trailing in the polls behind Mamdani, Sliwa, and Adams, positioning himself in a close race for third or fourth place.

• Cuomo's political career has been marred by scandal, including allegations of sexual harassment that led to his resignation as governor, although he denied any wrongdoing and apologized for making people feel uncomfortable.

• His campaign strategy includes urging non-leading candidates to drop out by mid-September, as he analyzes rank choice voting results to determine his path forward in the race.

• Cuomo's independent run is supported by his brother Chris Cuomo's media outlet, NewsNation, and he plans to make an official campaign announcement soon.