Mamdani downplays Cuomo's fundraising surge since Mayor Adams' exit from the race

Friday, October 3, 2025
HUDSON YARDS, Manhattan (WABC) -- In the race for New York City mayor, former Governor Andrew Cuomo says his campaign is seeing a major boost in contributions after Mayor Eric Adams decided to drop out, but will it be enough for him to close the gap between frontrunner Zohran Mamdani?

Mamdani came to Hudson Yards on Friday to condemn President Donald Trump and his decision to withhold federal money for the new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson.

"What New Yorkers need is someone in City Hall whose actions reflect conviction, clarity, commitment, not the cruelty of Donald Trump, not the collaboration of Eric Adams, and not the coordination with that same president by Andrew Cuomo," Mamdani said.

Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, insists that Cuomo is beholden to the president's conservative New York supporters, who are backing the Cuomo campaign.

Thirty-six hours after Mayor Adams ended his re-election bid on Sunday, nearly $400,000 flooded into the Cuomo campaign. The former governor now says he would welcome his endorsement.



"I would like to have his support, but I have been speaking to supporters of the mayor," Cuomo said.

Asked about that on a special edition of Eyewitness News Up Close, setto air on Sunday, Republican Curtis Sliwa practically recoiled.

"Eric, if you're watching, please don't endorse me. You're the kiss of death," he said.

Mamdani already has more money than he can spend. He hit the $8 million spending cap a month ago and he downplayed Cuomo's fundraising.

"The momentum in this race is for a politics that looks to actually stand up to authoritarianism, not one that looks to coordinate with it," Mamdani said.



Both campaigns will have millions to spend, it's more about momentum now than money, and the next poll will measure that.



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