Andrew Cuomo’s campaign has been hit with another campaign finance setback.

On Monday, Cuomo's campaign was docked more than $622,000 in matching funds by the city's Campaign Finance Board.

The reason: coordinating with an independent expenditure group, known as Fix the City, specifically on a television ad that ran earlier this month.


What You Need To Know

  • The city's Campaign Finance Board withheld more than $622,000 from the Cuomo campaign on Monday 

  • The board suggested the campaign coordinated with an independent expenditure group, called Fix the City

  • Fix the City has raised more than $7 million to spend to support Cuomo's candidacy 

The ad allegedly pulls messaging from this now-deleted page on the Cuomo website, which explained that the former governor is the candidate to get the job done.

It's a process known as red-boxing — where candidates discreetly direct independent expenditure groups on their websites to disseminate the right message to voters. It's prohibited in New York City.

The page was difficult to find on the Cuomo website.

"The board investigation into this matter is ongoing and we will continue to evaluate the issue of improper coordination," Richard Davis of the Campaign Finance Board said.

Despite the reprimand, the board still approved a $1.5 million payment for the Cuomo campaign in matching funds.

In a statement, a spokesman for the Cuomo campaign said, “Our campaign has operated in full compliance with the campaign finance laws and rules, and everything on our website was reviewed and approved by our legal team in advance of publication."  

A spokesperson for Fix the City said it followed the rules.

"The work undertaken by Fix the City, a fully independent expenditure committee, has taken place lawfully and without the insight or influence of any prohibited outside entities," the spokesperson said. 

"This is a pattern for Andrew Cuomo who has demonstrated he has a casual relationship with following the rules,” mayoral candidate Zellnor Myrie, who filed a complaint with the Campaign Finance Board last week about the page, said.

Other rivals also used the opportunity to criticize Cuomo.

"You can't run around and say you’re a great manager when you’re unable to manage the fundamental aspects of campaigning," Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent in this year’s general election, said.

The mayor was also denied matching funds again from the board on Monday. His campaign said it was exploring all legal options to get the cash, including court action.