A day after officially launching his campaign for mayor of New York City, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo held a kickoff rally with supporters at the headquarters of a city carpenters union in Greenwich Village Sunday.

It was a show of force out the gate for Cuomo, who is attempting a political comeback more than three years after resigning in the wake of sexual harassment allegations from 11 women. He is joining a slew of challengers to Mayor Eric Adams in the Democratic primary in June. Cuomo’s daughters spoke at the event and highlighted their concerns about crime in the city and struggles to find an affordable apartment.

What You Need To Know

  • A day after officially launching his campaign for mayor of New York City, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo held a kickoff rally with supporters at the headquarters of a city carpenters union in Greenwich Village Sunday

  • It was a show of force out the gate for Cuomo, who is attempting a political comeback more than three years after resigning in the wake of sexual harassment allegations from 11 women
  • Cuomo’s daughters spoke at the event and highlighted their concerns about crime in the city and struggles to find an affordable apartment
  • Outside, women opposed to his candidacy protested and pointed to the allegations of harassment that drove him from the governor’s mansion part of the way through his third term
  • Cuomo did not take questions from the press on Sunday and has yet to address the accusations directly since launching his campaign

“They cut $1 billion from the police budget. What did you think was going to happen? It created a city in chaos,” the former governor said, referencing cuts made to the NYPD budget in 2020 during the height of the “defund the police” push that were ultimately less than $1 billion. “We need more police in our subways, more police in our high crime areas, more police to stop the number of recidivists because nothing works if people don't feel safe, and public safety is still job one.”

Sunday’s event highlighted his endorsements from the New York City Council of Carpenters and District Council 9, a painters and trades union.

“As Governor, Cuomo was a steadfast champion for labor and working New Yorkers, delivering major union construction projects like LaGuardia Airport and the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge,” DC 9 secretary treasurer Joseph Azzopardi said in a statement. “We know that his leadership will continue to prioritize union workers, our members, and strengthen the entire construction industry.”

But not everyone was happy with Cuomo’s entrance to the race. Outside, women opposed to his candidacy protested and pointed to the allegations of harassment that drove him from the governor’s mansion part of the way through his third term. Cuomo did not take questions from the press on Sunday and has yet to address the accusations directly since launching his campaign.

“We call on all women, on everyone who believes in gender justice and everyone who is fighting for a better New York City to join us in opposing Cuomo as he tries to return to power,” said artist and activist Paola Mendoza at the protest backed by the Working Families Party. “We have not forgotten his abuse of women in all the ways that he has harmed New Yorkers.”

His fellow Democratic mayoral candidates continued to criticize Cuomo on Sunday. City Comptroller Brad Lander at a press conference took aim at Cuomo’s record as governor and accused him of “self-aggrandizement and fear mongering.” Former city Comptroller Scott Stringer wrote on social media Cuomo was “play acting as NYC’s savior” and “listing our problems but skipping the part where he caused them.”

But Mayor Adams welcomed him to the race.

“There’s a famous quote ‘come one, come all.’ We all got to come out, we can’t hide in the shadows, we got to come out and give our real position. So I’m looking forward to it,” the mayor said at Staten Island’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. “This is campaign season.”

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who is considering a run for mayor, told Spectrum News NY1 as she left the St. Pats for All Parade in Sunnyside on Sunday that Cuomo’s candidacy was “anticipated,” but declined to specifically criticize him, saying “we’re going to let the voters” judge his record.

In a separate interview at the Queens parade, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams sharply criticized Cuomo, comparing the former governor to President Donald Trump, and said he was “very excited about” Speaker Adams’ possible candidacy. Williams has already said he will rank Lander first or second on his ballot in June.

Earlier in the day, Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was elevated from lieutenant governor after Cuomo resigned in 2021, said “anybody who wants to run for office is entitled to, this is America” as she headed to speak at The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in Jamaica, not far from where the Queens native Cuomo grew up. The governor said she would not be endorsing in the race “given the unique power” she has over the mayor’s office.