Andrew Cuomo’s Allies Launch Super PAC in Preparation for Likely NYC Mayoral Bid

Andrew Cuomo’s Allies Launch Super PAC in Preparation for Likely NYC Mayoral Bid

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In what appears to be the most significant signal yet of Andrew M. Cuomo’s imminent entry into the New York City mayoral race, the former governor’s allies have launched a super PAC designed to bolster his campaign. As was reported by The New York Times on Wednesday, the newly formed Fix the City super PAC was officially registered with the New York State Board of Elections, setting the stage for what could be a contentious and well-funded campaign.

The “Fix the City” super PAC is expected to raise up to $15 million, significantly outpacing the fundraising efforts of Eric Adams’ primary super PAC during the 2021 mayoral election, which amassed around $7 million. According to the information provided in The New York Times, this level of financial backing could dominate spending in the upcoming mayoral race, giving Cuomo a potentially decisive advantage over other Democratic contenders.

Key figures behind the super PAC include Steven M. Cohen, a longtime Cuomo adviser and lawyer, as well as Brian Ellner, known for his role in legalizing same-sex marriage in New York during Cuomo’s tenure as governor, the report said. Other notable members include John Cordo, a prominent Albany lobbyist, and Mitra Hormozi, a former top aide to Cuomo when he served as New York’s attorney general, who will act as the super PAC’s treasurer.

Adding further political firepower, Bill Knapp, a veteran political strategist who previously worked on Michael Bloomberg’s mayoral campaigns, is set to lead Fix the City’s paid media efforts.  Knapp is involved in a personal capacity and is not representing SKDK, the public affairs firm he co-founded, as per The New York Times report.

Cuomo, who resigned in disgrace in 2021 following allegations of sexual harassment, has been methodically laying the groundwork for a comeback. Despite the controversies that forced him from office, polls indicate that he would enter the race as the early frontrunner, a testament to his political resilience and deep connections within the city’s Democratic base.

However, as The New York Times reported, early leads in New York City politics are notoriously fragile. Mayor Eric Adams and other Democratic candidates have already signaled their intent to rehash the scandals that led to Cuomo’s downfall, ensuring that his past will be a major campaign issue. At 67 years old, Cuomo continues to deny the allegations against him, positioning himself as a fighter against political attacks rather than a disgraced former governor.

According to a person familiar with Cuomo’s decision-making, the former governor was set to have dinner with his daughters on Thursday as he finalizes his decision on whether to officially launch his campaign. However, given that the super PAC is already operational and campaign planning is underway, The report in The New York Times suggested that this dinner is likely a mere formality before an official announcement.

One of the most significant advantages of Fix the City is its ability to sidestep New York City’s stringent campaign finance laws. The report in The New York Times explained that, while individuals donating directly to a mayoral campaign are limited to contributions of $3,700 (or $2,100 for candidates participating in the city’s matching-funds program), there are no legal limits on contributions to super PACs—as long as they do not directly coordinate with a candidate’s campaign.

This regulatory loophole has made super PACs a dominant force in city elections since the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision, which removed restrictions on outside spending in elections. In 2021, several major mayoral candidates benefited from super PACs, including Eric Adams, whose primary supporting PAC raised $7 million, with $1.5 million contributed by Steven A. Cohen, the billionaire owner of the New York Mets.

As The New York Times report indicated, Cohen is currently pushing for a casino near Citi Field, a proposal that would require the mayor’s approval. This dynamic illustrates how super PACs can be leveraged by wealthy donors to gain political influence, an issue that will likely become a focal point of debate as Cuomo’s campaign unfolds.

The Super PAC is expected to attract major contributions from New York’s real estate and business sectors, which have historically been strong financial backers of Cuomo. However, good-government groups warn that such PACs represent a dangerous erosion of campaign finance integrity.

“Whether it’s illegal or not, this is an end run around the campaign finance laws,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, in a statement to The New York Times. “New Yorkers are sick of this sort of corruption.”

The New York Times obtained emails dating back to January revealing that Cohen and other political strategists had been deliberating for weeks over potential names for the pro-Cuomo PAC. Among the options discussed were “Bring Back NYC,” “Reform Our City,” and “Fix NYC” before they ultimately settled on Fix the City.

Notably, some of the early discussions included Republicans with ties to former President Donald Trump, though none of them appear to still be involved in the PAC’s current iteration. The revelation of these initial cross-party ties calls attention to the strategic nature of Cuomo’s political comeback and his potential appeal to centrist and business-friendly constituencies.

In recent weeks, Cohen has been actively reaching out to potential donors, assessing their willingness to contribute to the PAC’s anticipated $15 million war chest. While the identities of the PAC’s initial donors remain unclear,

“There’s a strong cadre of people who have made clear to me their interest in being supportive of the former governor’s mayoral candidacy,” James Whelan, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, told The New York Times.

While Fix the City is operating as an independent expenditure committee, legally barred from directly coordinating with Cuomo’s campaign, The New York Times reported that the former governor is simultaneously building a formidable fundraising operation for his formal campaign committee.

Jennifer Bayer Michaels, Cuomo’s longtime fundraiser, has been working for weeks to organize a string of fundraising events throughout March to help build a financial foundation for his campaign.

In addition to raising new funds, Cuomo has been exploring two major financing avenues:

Participating in New York City’s public matching-funds program – This program provides an 8-to-1 match on eligible contributions from New York City residents, up to a $250 donation. Cuomo’s campaign is reportedly eager to maximize this matching program, which could generate millions in additional funding for his campaign.

Transferring funds from his old state campaign account – Cuomo still has $8 million left over from his previous state-level campaign account. However, because state and city campaign finance rules differ, The New York Times reported that only a fraction of these funds can be legally transferred to his new mayoral campaign account. Even so, this partial transfer could provide Cuomo’s campaign with crucial start-up capital.

Despite his high name recognition and early polling lead, Cuomo enters the New York City mayoral race at a fundraising disadvantage compared to other candidates who have been preparing for months. As the report in The New York Times indicated, several of his competitors already have multimillion-dollar campaign war chests: City Comptroller Brad Lander has nearly $4 million in cash on hand (as of mid-January), former Comptroller Scott Stringer has more than $3 million in cash, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani has more than $3 million on hand and State Senator Zellnor Myrie has nearly $2.5 million in available funds.

Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Adams, who is seeking reelection, reported around $3 million in campaign cash. However, the report in The New York Times noted that Adams is barred from participating in the city’s public matching-funds program due to his federal bribery and fraud charges—even though the Justice Department has since moved to dismiss the charges. A judge has yet to sign off on the dismissal, as prosecutors who worked on the case have argued that an improper deal was made between the Trump administration and Adams to resolve the allegations.

In the 2021 mayoral race, several candidates, including Eric Adams, benefited from super PAC support. Adams’ main supporting super PAC raised $7 million, including a $1.5 million contribution from Steven A. Cohen, the New York Mets owner who has been lobbying to place a casino near Citi Field—a project that would require mayoral approval.

With Cuomo’s Fix the City PAC expected to raise more than double that amount, The New York Times suggested that the 2025 mayoral election may see rec