Mayor Eric Adams continued his harsh criticism of rival Andrew Cuomo Tuesday, this time claiming the ex-governor has a history of derailing the political careers of Black officials.

“What has never been talked about that we need to talk about: Andrew’s assault on Black electeds,” Adams said. “He ran on the liberal line with Carl McCall and stayed on the ballot. Carl was running to be the first Black governor in the state of New York. Andrew sabotaged it.”

What You Need To Know

  • Mayor Eric Adams continued his harsh criticism of rival Andrew Cuomo Tuesday, this time claiming the ex-governor has a history of derailing the political careers of Black officials

  • In 2002, Cuomo ran for governor for the first time, but his entrance into the race — as a young, ambitious upstart — rubbed some in the Democratic establishment the wrong way. They were pushing for Carl McCall to become the state’s first Black governor

  • Cuomo’s campaign noted that the ex-governor secured McCall’s and former Gov. Paterson’s endorsements in this year’s primary, among a slew of Black city leaders

In 2002, Cuomo ran for governor for the first time, but his entrance into the race — as a young, ambitious upstart — rubbed some in the Democratic establishment the wrong way. They were pushing for Carl McCall to become the state’s first Black governor.

Cuomo ended up dropping out of the race one week before the primary with his name still on the ballot. McCall got the Democratic nomination but lost the general election to Pataki.

Adams claimed McCall’s defeat, as well as former Gov. Paterson’s scandal-scarred tenure, are connected to Cuomo.

“He did it to David Paterson. He wanted to be governor so bad that there are many things he did to David Paterson that didn’t let him run for reelection, and I was part of those conversations and hearing what happened. And now he’s trying to do it to me,” Adams said.

Despite the mayor’s claims, Cuomo’s campaign noted that the ex-governor secured McCall’s and Paterson’s endorsements in this year’s primary, among a slew of Black city leaders.

McCall even personally recruited Cuomo to run. He wrote a public letter showing his support, noting their decades-long relationship.

Meanwhile, Shawn Darcy, a spokesman for Paterson, shrugged off the comparison.

Darcy said Paterson is focused on supporting a candidate that can defeat Zohran Mamdani in the general election and that, “any other claims to the contrary are simply a distraction and, frankly, irresponsible as it relates to the consequences involved as a result of November’s upcoming General Election.”

Adams has refused to step aside or back down amid his standoff with Cuomo over who should remain in the race.

“One thing we know who is unelectable is who lost by 12-points on Election Day. That’s a fact, not opinions,” Adams said. “Have any of you seen him or interviewed him or communicated with him? No, I haven’t. I know what it takes. You have to get out among New Yorkers.”