Posters for Trump and Cuomo’s Return

Andrew Cuomo, a powerful, capable, and ruthless politician, was forced to step down as governor of New York three years ago due to a number of sexual harassment allegations (which he has always denied and for which he was never indicted or convicted). Never able to accept the end of his career, Cuomo is now contemplating a sensational comeback: He wants to be mayor of New York.

I’d Rather Vote for a Felon than a Jackass

The campaign posters I saw flying recently in Michigan that read “I’d rather vote for a felon than for a jackass” (available online for $16.99) testify to the unshakable faith of Donald Trump’s fans. However, they reminded me of another controversial personality: the Democrat, Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo, a powerful, capable and ruthless politician, was forced to step down as governor of New York three years ago due to a number of sexual harassment allegations (that he has always denied and for which he was never indicted or convicted). Unable to resign himself to the end of his career, Cuomo is now contemplating a sensational comeback: He wants to be mayor of New York. Current Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted and is at risk of resigning, thus a glimmer of hope has appeared for the Italian American politician. Cuomo wants to rise from the ashes, return the luster to one of the great Democratic dynasties (his father Mario also served as New York governor and was considered a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination), but he also seeks revenge.

Cuomo is an obstructive character, fierce with his adversaries and never loved by his party. Nonetheless, he is a capable administrator and still well-liked by many, notwithstanding the disgraceful circumstances under which he was forced to leave. According to the polls, 48% of New York Democrats want to see him back out there. This is a prospect, however, that terrifies not only the left wing of the party that sees in Cuomo a Republican masquerading as a centrist, but also many of the city’s union activists and business owners. They think that Cuomo as mayor would be antiestablishment and would conflict with Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, both of whom Cuomo blames for his downfall.

Among other things, James, the prosecutor whose sexual misconduct investigation forced Cuomo to resign, and who also investigated the mayor and others on his team, could herself run to succeed Adams. The great metropolis would thus plunge into an atmosphere reminiscent of “Hands Over the City.”*

In reality, New York, which never recovered from COVID, has already collapsed and only a bulldozer like Cuomo can revive it, say his allies. They have no fear of further legal issues.

Adams didn’t fear this, either. When he was elected, his friends celebrated that the city would be governed by a “lovable rogue.” Then the lovable part disappeared.

*Translator’s Note: “Hands Over the City” is a classic Italian film from 1963, set in the city of Naples, that deals with political corruption in post-World War II Italy.