Cuomo to run for New York mayor as third party candidate

Andrew Cuomo announced Monday he will stay in the New York City mayoral race as a third-party candidate after his shocking loss in the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani. Cuomo, the former New York governor, made his return to the campaign official with a video posted to his social media channels showing him walking the streets of Manhattan, shaking hands and talking selfies.

Cuomo’s decision potentially sets up the kind of November general election that New York City has not seen in decades. But it also leaves divided the opposition to Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist who energized younger progressives but has stirred worry among some elected Democrats.

Eric Adams, the incumbent mayor who is also running as an independent, was also critical of Cuomo’s decision to stay in the race. Campaign sources told CNN the former governor plans to ask other candidates besides Mamdani to drop out of the race in September if none of them are in the lead, and that he will plan to do the same – a plan initially floated by independent candidate Jim Walden. Adams has rejected that idea. Also in the race is Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee. #CNN #News