With Cuomo’s star dimming in wake of twin scandals, N.Y. political hopefuls step into the limelight
There’s blood in New York’s political water and the legislative sharks are circling.
The governor is wounded. Pundits can debate over whether the damage is self-inflicted or if the state’s once-invincible leader is the target of his rivals’ slings and arrows. It could be both, some say.
But there is agreement on this: If ever there was a time for anyone not named Andrew Cuomo to mount a serious gubernatorial campaign, this is it.
Gone are the height-of-the-pandemic days when Cuomo, a Democrat, could stroll up to a microphone, sit behind a briefing room desk, talk about love and heartache and be showered with endless praise.
Those heady moments have been replaced by the swirling winds of scandal and scorn that threaten to blow him out of Albany.
Between the fallout over his administration’s admitted failure to disclose an accurate number of coronavirus deaths in nursing homes, and Cuomo’s own apology for the “pain I’ve caused” in the wake of sexual harassment complaints, Cuomo is vulnerable, and the line to replace him is beginning to form.
According to a new Quinnipiac University poll, New Yorkers aren’t pushing for him to resign, but they’re not eager to see him run again. Fifty-five % of voters polled said he should not resign in the wake of the scandals.
But 59 % said that they would not like to see him run for reelection in 2022.
“From popular to precarious, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s political standing is on shaky ground,” said Quinnipiac University polling analyst Mary Snow. “New Yorkers are not clamoring to have him step down at this stage, but they are signaling a willingness to show him to the exit door once his term is done.”
The list of potential candidates in 2022 falls into three camps: Republicans, Democrats waiting to see if Cuomo resigns or forgoes a fourth term, and Democrats who could jump into the fray whether the governor seeks re-election or not.
Republicans: Though no one in the GOP has formally committed to a campaign the list of likelies is growing.
From upstate New York, U.S. Rep. Tom Reed said he is “seriously considering” a run. U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin of eastern Long Island is also exploring entering the race after conferring with his family.
“Governor Cuomo needs to be taken down,” said Reed. “Given an opportunity to do my part to serve and try to change the direction of the state, we are definitely looking at it.”
“From LI to NYC to Buffalo, NYers from all parties agree Cuomo has been Governor too long & it’s time for him to go. In addition to his abuse & lies, his disastrous policies have made NY less safe, less affordable, & less free,” Zeldin tweeted Thursday. “I’m exploring a run for Governor.”
Republican Marc Molinaro might be itching for a rematch. The Dutchess County Executive lost to Cuomo in 2018, but the governor wasn’t nearly as bruised then as he is now.
“I am considering my future,” Molinaro told the Daily News. “I think that this state is still worth saving so I’m giving it good consideration.”
He said Republicans have a real shot with a weakened Cuomo.
“We do have to present as a team and I think our gubernatorial candidate needs to be someone who’s been tested. We’ve lived through some very challenging times that are not just going to disappear in 2023. So, an individual who has the background, the experience, and can speak to Democrats in a very honest way.”
Other potential Republican candidates include another upstate New Yorker, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, an outspoken Cuomo critic with name recognition, and Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean.
“This governor should resign,” Stefanik said in a podcast last week. " If he does not resign, there is a path for a Republican to win statewide in New York.”
Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf believes Republicans have a good chance, whether Cuomo runs or not:
“An anti-Trump, centrist Republican, who gets 20% of New York City’s vote, wins the election,” Sheinkopf said. “The Cuomo fallout will probably injure Democrats upstate.”
Wait-and-see Democrats: State Attorney General Letitia James is at the helm of an independent investigation into Cuomo’s behavior. Her office is currently seeking outside counsel, which will be armed with subpoena power and the ability to depose Cuomo. She may also be running for governor.
Should Cuomo decide not to run, the fallout favors a moderate, experts said, and James has the most appeal. But the buzz among Democrats is that James could challenge Cuomo in a primary if his numbers continue to fall.
Waiting in the wings, too, is state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
The bring-it-on Democrats: For these upstart Democrats the time is now. Last time around, Jumaane Williams ran for lieutenant governor against the Cuomo ticket and lost. But he used the coalition he built to win his current seat as the city’s public advocate.
“Cuomo’s tanking in the polls and might not even hobble to primary day,” one Democratic source said. “But if he does run, Tish James or Jumaane Williams would be formidable challengers. Cuomo’s firewall has always been Black New York City voters — and Tish or Jumaane would quickly eat into his base.”
Itching for a fight, too, is state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, of Westchester, a tough Cuomo critic. Democratic insiders say don’t count out New York City Mayor de Blasio, who has been on a collision course with Cuomo since the moment he stepped into City Hall.
Regardless of who runs, Sheinkopf says he doesn’t see Cuomo leaving office before 2022.
“He’s got nothing to lose,” Sheinkopf said. “Unless there’s a crime committed that forces him to leave, it’s very hard to see a condition under which he leaves of his own volition. More than likely, if this gets worse, he’ll stay to the end of 2022 just to punish everybody.”
