By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-05 23:21:02 | Updated at 2024-12-22 11:35:53
2 weeks ago
Andrew Cuomo would be the favorite to win the Democratic primary for New York City mayor next year if he jumps into the race — thanks in part to ranked-choice voting, an adviser to the-ex governor claims.
“I would be lying if I said that I had not seen data that answers that question,” Melissa DeRosa said on Mark Malperin’s 2 Way Tonight podcast Wednesday, when asked about how Cuomo would fare in a Democratic primary.
Ranked choice voting, which went into effect for city elections starting in 2021, comes into play if the top-vote getter gets less than 50% of the vote.
Under the system, voters choose candidates in the order of preference.
The last-place candidate is eliminated and voters who chose that candidate then have their votes counted for their second choice, and the process continues until only two candidates are left — with each candidate getting a vote for everyone who put them in their ranking.
“[Cuomo] starts out as the clear front runner and it’s not just because of his name ID,” DeRosa, who was Cuomo’s top aide when he was in the governor’s mansion, said.
She believes that supporters of former city Comptroller Scott Stringer and state Sens. Zellnor Myrie of Brooklyn and Jessica Ramos — all announced candidates for mayor — are likely to rank Cuomo as their second choice.
In a crowded primary field, ranked choice voting means those votes are ultimately likely to go to Cuomo.
“Any black vote that Zellnor Myrie gets immediately goes to Cuomo. Any Hispanic vote that Jessica Ramos gets immediately goes to Cuomo,” DeRamos said.
Still, she said, Mayor Eric Adams is a wildcard — and whether he is still in the race could affect Cuomo’s calculus on whether to run.
Other announced Democratic candidates include current city Comptroller Brad Lander, Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, Jim Walden — and others.
Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa is expected to be a Republican candidate again.
Adams, who is facing a federal criminal trial on bribery and wire fraud charges and conspiring to receive campaign contributions from foreign nationals, maintains his innocence and repeated Thursday that he’s seeking re-election.
“Who knows what happens with Eric Adams. It’s premature,” said DeRosa.
DeRosa fielded a question about a potential Cuomo candidacy from a Jewish voter from Flatbush, Brooklyn, who said he would back Cuomo.
The podcast until that point had focused on national issues involving President-elect Donald Trump and President Biden.
“If the stars are aligned, God willing, [Cuomo] gets in and fixes the direction of the city,” she said.
DeRosa suggested Adams has been a weak mayor, saying the incumbent has not been forceful enough in fighting for the city with Gov. Kathy Hochul and the legislature — “to the detriment” of Big Apple residents.
“Eric Adams always pulls his punches when it comes to Albany,” she said.
She said that wouldn’t happen with Cuomo, who wouldn’t have a “buddy, buddy” relationship with Hochul, his former lieutenant governor.
Post columnist John Podhoretz also appeared on the podcast.
While a critic of Cuomo over the years, he the political scion was preferable to other Democratic candidates in the field — crediting him for pushing the MTA to finally construct the 2nd Avenue subway, and for the makeovers of LaGuardia airport and Tappan Zee bridge under his watch.
He also noted that Cuomo stood up to protect charter schools when then-Mayor de Blasio sought to block expansion of the popular alternative schools. .
The Post reached out to Adams for comment.
Cuomo has his own baggage to contend with.
He resigned as governor in August of 2021 amid sexual misconduct accusations that he denies.
He also took flak even from fellow Democrats in Congress this week over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Cuomo spokesman said no decision has been made on whether the ex-governor will run for City Hall.
