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(TJV) In a significant development that could reshape the political landscape of New York City, the Asian Wave Alliance (AWA), a citywide organization representing Asian Americans, is encouraging former Governor Andrew Cuomo to enter the race for mayor. As The New York Post reported on Sunday, the group believes the Democratic Party has veered too far to the left and sees Cuomo as a strong, “pragmatic” leader who could restore balance to city governance.
Cuomo himself was a far more leftist-leaning politician when compared to Eric Adams, AWA has forgotten how radical Cuomo was.
According to the information provided in The New York Post report, the AWA leadership recently held an extensive Zoom meeting with Cuomo, where they explored the possibility of his candidacy and discussed key concerns affecting the city’s Asian American communities. Yiatin Chu, president of the Asian Wave Alliance, emphasized the need for a leader with a practical approach to governance, telling The New York Post, “Andrew Cuomo would probably be the most common-sense candidate in the Democratic primary.”
AWA has long championed policies that prioritize merit-based education and stricter anti-crime measures. The organization maintains deep ties with the city’s expanding ethnic Chinese population across Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Manhattan. The report in The New York Post highlighted that the group’s engagement with Cuomo signals a growing political realignment within these communities, where concerns over education and public safety have led many residents to reconsider their traditional Democratic loyalties.
Despite being framed as a moderate alternative, Cuomo’s record as governor reflects a progressive agenda that in many ways positioned him well to the left of Mayor Eric Adams. Cuomo championed several landmark liberal policies, including legalizing same-sex marriage in New York, enacting one of the nation’s strictest gun control laws with the SAFE Act, and implementing aggressive climate policies, including banning fracking in New York.
Additionally, Cuomo enacted radical bail reform policies that many critics argue have contributed to increased crime rates in New York. He also championed a controversial sanctuary state policy, restricting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, which drew sharp criticism from conservatives and law enforcement groups.
Cuomo famously called ICE ” a bunch of thugs” and stated “America has never been that great” during an anti-Trump screed,
Perhaps most controversially, Cuomo signed legislation allowing late-term abortions up until right before birth, a move that pro-life advocates condemned as extreme and inhumane.
Furthermore, Cuomo’s stance on housing and labor rights often aligned with progressive activists, despite his pragmatic approach to governance. While Adams has been criticized for taking a more centrist, pro-business stance, Cuomo repeatedly engaged with unions and progressive advocacy groups to push for policies that expanded social programs and worker protections. His left-leaning record stands in contrast to the perception of him as a merely centrist figure, highlighting the complexity of New York politics and the shifting definitions of ideological alignment.
During their February 5th virtual meeting, AWA and Cuomo covered a range of pressing urban issues, including homelessness, migrant shelters, public safety, and the preservation of specialized high schools and gifted-and-talented programs. Additionally, The New York Post reported that traffic concerns—such as congestion pricing and the increasing dangers posed by e-bikes and rogue scooter riders—were central to their discussion. AWA executive board member and former City Council candidate Donghui Zang emphasized that leadership experience is crucial in today’s turbulent climate, telling The New York Post, “In these challenging times, we need leaders who have a record of proven experience, accomplishments, and have a genuine commitment to their constituents, which includes Asian New Yorkers. For those reasons, we strongly urge former Governor Cuomo to enter the Democratic primary for mayor.”
The New York Post has previously documented a notable rightward shift among Asian voters in New York City in recent election cycles. Many in traditionally Democratic precincts turned to Republican candidates such as Curtis Sliwa in the 2021 mayoral race and Lee Zeldin in the 2022 gubernatorial contest, largely in response to concerns over rising crime and progressive education policies. This political evolution underscores the dissatisfaction of many Asian American voters with the city’s current leadership and the broader Democratic establishment. As The New York Post report noted, Sliwa has already declared his intention to run again as the Republican nominee for mayor, further intensifying the upcoming race.
While the AWA has not yet officially endorsed Cuomo, The New York Post reported that the organization expects to make formal endorsements in both the primary and general elections. This cautious but deliberate approach indicates that the group is strategically positioning itself to influence the outcome of the city’s political future.
In a related development, The New York Post revealed that Cuomo’s potential mayoral bid is gaining substantial traction, with former state Comptroller Carl McCall publicly endorsing him. McCall, a towering figure in New York politics and the first Black official elected to statewide office, made a rare public appeal urging Cuomo to run. In an open letter published by The New York Post, McCall wrote, “New York cannot be represented by someone whose loyalty to the city is compromised – we deserve a Mayor of New York to be for New York.” While he did not explicitly mention Mayor Eric Adams, The New York Post report pointed out that McCall’s remarks come at a pivotal moment, just as the Justice Department, under President Trump, ordered prosecutors to drop federal bribery charges against Adams—a development that has fueled speculation about the mayor’s political future.
The momentum behind Cuomo’s potential candidacy represents a major shakeup in the city’s political establishment. With influential voices like the Asian Wave Alliance and Carl McCall calling for his return to public office, Cuomo could find himself at the forefront of a heated and transformative mayoral race. If he chooses to run, his candidacy would test the resilience of his political brand and force a broader conversation about the future direction of New York City’s leadership.
