Cuomo’s Queens Coup: Black Lawmakers Snub Mayor Eric Adams in Stunning Endorsement Shift

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In a political development that has sent shockwaves through New York City’s electoral landscape, a coalition of Black lawmakers from Queens has delivered a stunning endorsement for former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the upcoming Democratic mayoral primary—while notably refusing to rank current Mayor Eric Adams at all. According to a report that appeared on Saturday in The New York Post, the eight-member group of legislators from southeast Queens has thrown its weight behind Cuomo, dealing a severe political blow to both Mayor Adams and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.

This endorsement marks a pivotal moment in the increasingly competitive 2025 mayoral race and represents a dramatic shift in the loyalties of influential Black political leaders in a city still grappling with crises in housing, public safety, and affordability.

“The attempted comeback from Andrew Cuomo is nothing short of remarkable,” said state Senator James Sanders, a key member of the coalition, in comments to The New York Post. Cuomo, who announced his candidacy for mayor on March 1 following months of a carefully managed shadow campaign, appears to have successfully leveraged his political legacy and executive experience to recapture support among influential Democratic lawmakers.

The coalition’s decision to place Cuomo at the top of their ranked-choice ballots was reached after an intensive vetting process in which all eight members interviewed a slate of mayoral hopefuls. Their conclusion: Cuomo was best equipped to steer New York City through its turbulent challenges.

“We asked the candidates, ‘Who could take us out of this crisis in New York City? Who is best to steer us through these troubled waters?’” Sanders told The New York Post.

Although the group ranked Speaker Adrienne Adams second—seen by many as a gesture of respect and partial support—it was a distant second place. According to the information provided in The New York Post report, some coalition members even ranked Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie third, while others left him off their ballots entirely.

Speaker Adams, who only formally joined the race two weeks ago, was penalized by the lawmakers for her late entry. “There’s no question that if Speaker Adams had entered the race earlier she might have been our first choice,” Sanders explained to The New York Post. “The cruel mathematics of the campaign favors those who enter the race earlier.”

Still, the slight carried political undertones, especially given that Sanders himself appeared at Speaker Adams’ campaign launch just days earlier—and spoke for a notable 17 minutes in support of her candidacy. That apparent contradiction did not go unnoticed by Adrienne Adams’ camp.

“That’s really rich coming from an elected official who showed up at Adrienne’s announcement and spoke for 17 minutes,” said her campaign spokesperson, Lupe Todd, in remarks reported by The New York Post.

Perhaps the most striking element of the endorsement was the complete omission of Mayor Eric Adams from the coalition’s ranked choices. Not a single lawmaker included the incumbent mayor on their ballots—a stinging rebuke of the city’s second Black mayor from members of his own racial and political constituency.

Though Mayor Adams was not up for endorsement by this particular coalition, his absence from even the lowest rankings sends a clear signal of dissatisfaction with his leadership, particularly in the southeast Queens political sphere. It also deepens the intra-Black political fissures now emerging within the Democratic Party in New York City.

Cuomo’s campaign, according to The New York Post, has been particularly wary of Adrienne Adams’ entry into the race, viewing her as a potential siphon of Black votes that could complicate the former governor’s path to City Hall. However, the backing of this coalition now offers Cuomo critical insulation from that threat—at least within a key demographic segment.

Cuomo’s political comeback bid is no longer hypothetical—it now carries the weight of formal support from a segment of southeast Queens’ political establishment. But the decision has also drawn pointed criticism and exposed fractures within the coalition itself, particularly as some members broke ranks and declined to back Cuomo altogether.

The New York Post reported that Cuomo resigned in 2021 under mounting pressure amid multiple accusations of sexual misconduct and the looming threat of impeachment—allegations he has consistently denied. His third term as governor, marked by both acclaim and controversy during the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to divide public opinion.

These issues resurfaced during the coalition’s candidate interviews, lawmakers acknowledged, but many ultimately prioritized his long track record of governance over the controversies. “Cuomo is an outstanding manager and visionary leader. He’s someone we need going forward,” Assemblyman Clyde Vanel told The New York Post.

Vanel emphasized that Cuomo’s administrative acumen and ability to manage sprawling bureaucracies made him the most compelling choice. Despite his past scandals, Vanel noted that Cuomo’s leadership qualities carried more weight in the minds of many on the committee.

Still, not all lawmakers were willing to fall in line behind Cuomo. State Senator Leroy Comrie—an influential Queens legislator—voiced his dissent clearly. “The group supported Cuomo, I didn’t. I dissented. I support Adrienne,” Comrie told The New York Post, emphasizing that the endorsement was not unanimous.

In fact, Speaker Adrienne Adams did secure a second-place ranking from many lawmakers, a significant placement in a ranked-choice voting primary. Yet for critics, that second-place nod carries mixed political optics. “It’s a big deal to be ranked second, but others will say it’s a bad sign that Adrienne couldn’t unify her own base in southeast Queens,” Vanel admitted in the Post interview.

The coalition’s screening committee included Assembly members Khaleel Anderson, Lorinda Hooks, and Alicia Hyndman, as well as Councilwomen Selvena Brooks-Powers and Nantasha Williams. Their endorsement was reached after interviewing eight candidates last weekend—a lineup that included Senators Jessica Ramos and Zellnor Myrie, Comptroller Brad Lander, his predecessor Scott Stringer, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, and former Assemblyman Michael Blake.

Adrienne Adams’ campaign responded swiftly and forcefully to the news of the endorsement, calling into question Cuomo’s commitment to the communities these very lawmakers represent. “It’s sad to see elected officials support a former governor who underfunded schools and closed hospitals in Southeast Queens,” said Adams’ spokesperson, Lupe Todd, in comments reported by The New York Post.

Todd didn’t mince words when addressing what she viewed as political strong-arming by Cuomo’s operatives. “From the start, we knew the Cuomo camp would use pressure and intimidation because Adrienne is the biggest threat to his comeback tour. If they want to waste time playing politics, so be it.”

Notably, Cuomo’s campaign declined to comment to The New York Post on the endorsement—yet the message was delivered clearly through the lawmakers who now form part of his growing support base. For Cuomo, the endorsement provides not only a tangible political boost, but also a symbolic victory—particularly among Black voters, a key demographic in any Democratic primary in New York City.

While Speaker Adams remains a viable contender, her inability to consolidate support within her own political stronghold could undermine her momentum. For Mayor Eric Adams—conspicuously omitted from all coalition rankings—the message was even more damning. His absence on lawmakers’ ballots suggests a sharp erosion of confidence in his leadership, even among the city’s Black political class.

The June 24 Democratic primary is shaping up to be more than a typical election—it’s becoming a referendum on the city’s direction, the legacy of its past leaders, and the ability of political figures to reinvent themselves in the face of scandal. With early voting just months away, the Queens coalition’s endorsement, reported in detail by The New York Post, sets the stage for an unpredictable and bruising battle for City Hall.

Whether Cuomo’s managerial legacy can overcome his turbulent exit from the governor’s mansion remains to be seen. But what is now undeniable is that he has reentered the political arena with more than just ambition—he has allies, endorsements, and the firepower to make this a real fight.