Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent in New York City’s mayoral race, reportedly issued a stark warning Tuesday about the potential consequences of electing his Democratic opponent, Zohran Mamdani, citing the candidate’s long record of antagonism toward law enforcement.
Cuomo’s remarks came during a Tuesday interview on CNN, just one day after a mass shooting in Manhattan claimed the lives of four people, including NYPD Officer Didarul Islam.
The tragedy, Cuomo argued, underscores the dangers of treating public safety as a political game.
Asked whether a Mayor Mamdani would boost or hinder NYPD morale, Cuomo didn’t hesitate: “If you look at his prior statements, I think it would definitely hurt. Literally, he has said he was part of this defund the police movement. He has said that the police are a threat to public safety, that they are racists, that he would dismantle the police department. So these are all very harsh statements.”
Cuomo emphasized the implications such rhetoric has for police recruitment, noting, “I think it would be very hard to recruit police who would want to work for a mayor who… called the police officers racist. I think he would aggravate what is already a bad situation.”
With the NYPD struggling to retain and recruit officers amid rising crime and anti-police hostility, Cuomo made the case that public safety must remain a top priority, not a political talking point.
“You don’t play politics with public safety,” he warned. “In New York City, that’s not something you fool around with, frankly.”
Mamdani, a state assemblyman and self-described democratic socialist, has previously referred to the NYPD as “racist, anti-queer, and a major threat to public safety,” and has advocated for the department to be “defunded” and “dismantled.”
Cuomo also took aim at Mamdani’s absence during the crisis, noting that his opponent was “in Uganda on vacation” while New Yorkers reeled from the shooting.
“And I’m sure he suggested that he feels remorse. How can you not? A police officer is killed, young family. But… you can’t take back 10 years of public statements, and very harsh public statements, and expect anyone to take you seriously.”
Cuomo, who served as governor of New York for over a decade, drew on his experience managing the state through major crises—from 9/11 anniversaries and hurricanes to the COVID-19 pandemic—to drive home the seriousness of the job.
“This city is very diverse, very concentrated. It is a delicate balance,” he said. “And when you talk about defunding the police… and you demoralize them to the point where they’re quitting at record levels, you can’t hire new police—that is a dangerous situation. You’re creating a dangerous situation.”
Cuomo acknowledged the politics of the progressive left but argued that leadership requires more than slogans. “This is government. Public safety is a fundamental governmental responsibility,” he said. “And that line between political rhetoric and governmental responsibility is very important. I don’t think [Mamdani] respects it.”
As crime and safety remain defining issues for the city, Cuomo’s sharp rebuke of Mamdani signaled his intention to reframe the mayoral race around competence, experience, and law and order—core concerns for many New Yorkers across the political spectrum.
[READ MORE: Karl Rove Warns Democrats: Embrace of Radical Left Candidates Could Alienate Voters]
