A group of Black elected officials from Queens announced their endorsement of former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor on March 22nd, Saturday. This decision serves as a clear rebuke of Mayor Eric Adams, who was entirely excluded from the coalition’s rankings, and poses a major challenge to City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who recently entered the race.
The endorsement by this eight-member group complicates Adrienne Adams’ path to victory, as she was counting on strong support from Southeast Queens, a region with high voter turnout in the 2021 mayoral race. Despite her local ties, the lawmakers chose Cuomo as their top pick, emphasizing his leadership experience and ability to address New York City’s pressing challenges.
State Senator James Sanders called Cuomo’s resurgence “nothing short of remarkable” and acknowledged that Adams’ late entry into the race worked against her. “There’s no question that if Speaker Adams had entered the race earlier she might have been our first choice. The cruel mathematics of the campaign favors those who enter the race earlier,” he explained.
The coalition, which includes State Senators Leroy Comrie and James Sanders, Assemblymembers Clyde Vanel, Alicia Hyndman, Larinda Hooks, and Khaleel Anderson, and Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers and Nantasha Williams, interviewed several mayoral candidates before making their final decision.
Adrienne Adams’ campaign swiftly condemned the endorsement. Spokesperson Lupe Todd-Medina remarked, “It’s sad to see elected officials support a former governor who underfunded schools and closed hospitals in Southeast Queens.”
This endorsement is a significant setback for Mayor Eric Adams, who relied on the support of many of these lawmakers during his successful 2021 campaign. This time, however, he was left out of their rankings, raising doubts about his prospects for re-election.
With the Democratic primary set for June 24th, both Adrienne Adams and Eric Adams now face an uphill battle to regain the trust of key political figures who have shifted their support to Cuomo.
