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In NYC mayoral race, will AOC help progressives beat Andrew Cuomo?
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Apr 8, 2025
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Chet Strange / Getty Images
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Apr 8, 2025
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As Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez works to build a movement against President Donald Trump, anticipation is building in her hometown for the Democratic congressmember’s potential intervention in the New York City mayoral race.
“She is among the heavyweight A-list endorsers who have the power to change the trajectory of the race,” said Trip Yang, a Democratic strategist.
At a time when a changing political climate has thrown the value of traditional endorsements into question, Ocasio-Cortez’s unusual celebrity and social media prowess allow her to wield significant influence. She stands to offer clarity to left-leaning voters in a ranked-choice primary, where progressives are hoping to apply a unified strategy to beat Andrew Cuomo, a moderate frontrunner and longtime progressive nemesis with a significant lead in the polls.
The primary is crowded with contenders vying to Cuomo’s left, and two top progressives hold potential appeal for Ocasio-Cortez. At the front of the pack, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani from Queens has been compared to her for his communication skills and deft use of social media, making him the favorite of young left-leaning voters who are critical to AOC’s own star power. But city Comptroller Brad Lander is a New York City fixture, having won her endorsement for his progressive track record when he ran for his current office in 2021.
Although an endorsement from Ocasio-Cortez would not guarantee a victory, few have questioned the power she has to shake up the race. In 2021, she endorsed Maya Wiley as her first choice one week before early voting began. Wiley, who had been struggling in the race, went on to finish a close third behind Kathryn Garcia. Her late surge left many political observers wondering what could have happened had the congressmember endorsed earlier.
“Her blessing consolidated progressives and brought a tidal wave of energy and attention that was irreplaceable,” said Jon Paul Lupo, a strategist who worked on Wiley’s campaign. “Whoever gets it this year will have a huge leg up on the field.”
But Ocasio-Cortez, whose campaign didn’t respond to a request for comment, is known to take a wait-and-see approach.
Yang said the congressmember will likely look to see how the candidates perform and consider endorsements from other progressives. The New York Working Families Party, a third party that is closely aligned to Ocasio-Cortez, has endorsed a slate of four candidates: City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Lander, Mamdani and state Sen. Zellnor Myrie — and it’s expected to announce at least a first-choice candidate in late April or early May, a crucial decision that could help progressives coalesce and lay the foundation for Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsement.
For now, one thing is almost certain: Ocasio-Cortez will oppose Cuomo and the incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, now running as an independent. She called on Adams to step down after multiple members of his administration departed amid federal investigations, but before his indictment — and ahead of other members of their shared party. She was among the many Democrats who said Cuomo should step down four years ago amid sexual misconduct allegations.
Even prior to the scandal, there was little love lost between Ocasio-Cortez and Cuomo. The two are ideologically opposed on issues from taxing the wealthy to policing. In 2020, she challenged the then-governor’s plan to build a $2 billion AirTrain that would connect Long Island Railroad and subway riders to LaGuardia Airport. The plan was later halted by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“New Yorkers know it was Governor Cuomo who raised wages for millions, passed the strongest paid family leave and gun violence prevention laws in the nation and built the Second Avenue Subway, the Moynihan Train Station and the new Kosciuszko Bridge, LaGuardia and JFK airports," Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said in a statement. "This city is in crisis - a crisis of affordability, of quality of life, and of leadership and Governor Cuomo is the only person in this race with the proven track record of results to tackle these issues head on."
Though Ocasio-Cortez has not spoken publicly about endorsing a mayoral candidate, she told a CNN reporter that she would not support Cuomo’s candidacy.
Tagged
new york city
Politics
alexandria ocasio-cortez
Elizabeth Kim
Elizabeth Kim is a reporter on the People and Power desk who covers mayoral power. She previously covered the pandemic, housing, redevelopment and public spaces. A native of Queens, she speaks fluent Mandarin. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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