Cuomo Trump Endorsement Will It Boost or Hurt His NYC Run

Cuomo Trump endorsement shakes up NYC mayoral race. Will it help Andrew Cuomo or backfire against him in the 2025 election?

New York City’s mayoral race has taken an unexpected turn as former President Donald Trump endorses Andrew Cuomo, the ex-New York governor running as an independent. But with the election underway, the big question remains: will Trump’s support boost Cuomo’s campaign—or backfire?

Trump Throws Support Behind Cuomo

As New Yorkers head to the polls, Trump has publicly backed Cuomo, who lost the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani in June. The endorsement came just hours before polling opened, surprising many political analysts.

Trump labeled Mamdani, a progressive Democrat and Muslim immigrant, a “communist” and threatened to withhold federal funds from New York City if Mamdani wins. He urged voters to back Cuomo instead, describing him as a “bad Democrat” but preferable to Mamdani, whom he claims would lead the city to failure.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote:
“I would much rather see a Democrat, who has a record of success, win, than a Communist with no experience and total failure.”

Why Trump Endorsed Cuomo

Trump’s endorsement seems less about Cuomo’s qualifications and more about opposition to Mamdani. Mamdani has campaigned on universal childcare, rent freezes, and affordable public services, policies Trump and conservative allies frame as radical.

While Trump paints Mamdani as a communist, fact-checkers like PolitiFact have repeatedly debunked this, clarifying that Mamdani’s democratic socialist proposals do not equate to a centrally planned economy.

In interviews, Trump has acknowledged he is not a fan of Cuomo personally but sees him as a safer alternative to Mamdani.

Cuomo Tries to Distance Himself

Cuomo has been careful not to embrace Trump’s endorsement fully. He emphasized that Mamdani is a socialist, not a communist, and stressed that he remains a proud Democrat.

“We don’t need a socialist mayor either,” Cuomo told reporters, adding that while he appreciates the endorsement, his campaign is independent and focused on New Yorkers’ needs—not Trump’s agenda.

Cuomo has attempted to appeal to moderate and Republican voters while maintaining some distance from Trump’s more controversial rhetoric.

Mamdani Frames Cuomo as Trump’s Puppet

Mamdani’s campaign has aggressively portrayed Cuomo as Trump’s preferred candidate, arguing that the former governor aligns more with Trump’s interests than New Yorkers’.

“This is the man that Donald Trump wants to be the next mayor—not because he’ll be good for New Yorkers, but because he’ll be good for Donald Trump,” Mamdani told CNN.

Mamdani’s team has also highlighted Cuomo’s endorsement from billionaire Elon Musk, suggesting that Cuomo benefits from elite backing rather than grassroots support.

Could Trump’s Support Actually Help Cuomo?

In some parts of New York City, Trump’s backing could provide Cuomo a small boost. In the 2024 presidential election, Trump made gains in areas like southern Brooklyn, parts of Queens, and Staten Island’s North Shore—neighborhoods where Cuomo previously did well in the Democratic primary.

This suggests that older, working-class, and Orthodox Jewish voters might respond positively to Trump’s endorsement. Additionally, Cuomo has attempted to attract Curtis Sliwa’s Republican supporters, warning that a vote for Sliwa could help Mamdani.

The Potential Backfire: Alienating Democratic Voters

Despite possible gains in certain neighborhoods, Trump’s endorsement could also harm Cuomo in the city’s heavily Democratic electorate. Mamdani’s campaign has used the Trump connection to paint Cuomo as a proxy for conservative and elite interests.

Trump’s declining support among Black and Hispanic voters could also work against Cuomo, especially in neighborhoods where these communities are crucial to the vote. Trump’s policies on immigration and social programs may make Cuomo’s connection to him a liability rather than an asset.

Sliwa Voters Could Make the Difference

The race could come down to Curtis Sliwa’s supporters. While Sliwa has refused to drop out, polling indicates that if his voters switch to Cuomo, it could significantly close the gap with Mamdani. In a Marist poll, Cuomo would gain 44% support versus Mamdani’s 50% if Sliwa withdrew, illustrating the potential impact of consolidating the anti-Mamdani vote.

Cuomo has been actively encouraging Sliwa supporters to join him, framing it as a strategic move to prevent Mamdani from winning under New York’s first-past-the-post system.

Final Take

Trump’s endorsement makes the mayoral race more unpredictable. While it may help Cuomo in select neighborhoods and among Republican-leaning voters, it risks alienating a broader Democratic base in a city that heavily favors progressives.

Ultimately, the outcome may hinge on voter turnout in key boroughs and whether Cuomo can balance his appeal to moderates without being seen as Trump’s proxy.

The 2025 New York City mayoral race is shaping up as a dramatic test of political alliances, with national implications for the influence of endorsements in local elections.

Cuomo Trump endorsement