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New York.- Former Democratic governor and now independent candidate for New York City mayor, Andrew Cuomo, praised this Sunday the decision of Mayor Eric Adams to "prioritize the well-being of the city above his personal ambitions" for making the decision not to seek a second term in the upcoming elections on November 5th.
"The decision he made was not easy, but I believe he is sincere in prioritizing the well-being of New York City above his personal ambitions", Cuomo noted on his X account shortly after Adams surprised many New Yorkers with his announcement in a video, although it was a topic that had been circulating in the media.
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Just a few days ago, the mayor, last in the opinion polls among the four main candidates, had assured, in the face of speculation that he would leave the race, that "he would not go anywhere". Following Adams' decision, who, although a Democrat, was seeking re-election as an independent, the race for the coveted position of New York City mayor is now limited to State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who leads the polls after surprisingly winning the Democratic primaries in June; Cuomo, who follows in second place, and Republican Curtis Silwa, who is running for the second time and known by many as the founder of the Guardian Angels group. Cuomo, who had asked Adams to withdraw from the race, which the councilman had also asked him, also pointed out in his message today that "we are facing destructive extremist forces that would devastate our city through incompetence or ignorance, but it is not too late to stop them", referring to Mamdani, although he did not mention his name. Mamdani's victory in the primaries, a 33-year-old Muslim who defines himself as a socialist and who has gained the support of important unions and the state governor, Kathy Hochul, -although not all Democratic leaders- has provoked attacks against him accusing him of being a "communist". Among those who reject him, there is a large group of wine merchants and other traders, who could now join Cuomo's side. The 68-year-old former governor, who also served as federal Housing Secretary and New York Attorney General, acknowledged Adams' efforts since his childhood to get ahead, as before becoming mayor he was a police captain, state senator and Brooklyn borough president, and that he always remembers his humble beginnings. "Adams has a lot to be proud of with his achievements," said Cuomo, who after capturing national attention during the Covid crisis when New York was the epicenter of the pandemic, resigned in 2021 after accusations of sexual harassment from several women. "Whatever differences we may have, Eric Adams' story is undeniably a story of resilience, a testament to the spirit of this city," he emphasized. For his part, Silwa's campaign assured that the Republican candidate "is the only one" who can now defeat Mamdani. "Our team, our resources, and our funding are unmatched. And most importantly, we have the best solutions to help workers stay in the city and feel safe," he said in a statement. While Governor Hochul - who supports Mandani - recalled the work she has done with Adams, particularly in creating housing. "He leaves the city better than he inherited it and that will always be fundamental in his legacy as mayor," she assured on her social media account.
