Andrew Cuomo to Launch “Fight and Deliver” Party as Backup Ballot Line in NYC Mayoral Race

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In a bold and calculated maneuver aimed at expanding his electoral reach and hedging against potential party fractures, former Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced plans to establish a second ballot line—dubbed the “Fight and Deliver” Party—for the upcoming New York City mayoral election. As The New York Post reported on Tuesday, Cuomo intends to pursue the new line regardless of whether he secures the Democratic nomination, creating a strategic fallback and a tool to court disaffected voters across the political spectrum.

The former three-term governor, who is now attempting a political comeback after resigning in 2021, revealed his intentions in a statement on Tuesday. “This November, in addition to securing the Democratic nomination, my campaign will work to build the largest possible coalition and secure the biggest possible mandate,” Cuomo said, as quoted by The New York Post. “We will be responsive to those who want to support my candidacy, but who would like an alternate way to do it, by starting the Fight and Deliver Party to appeal to disillusioned Democrats, as well as to independents and Republicans.”

Sources close to the campaign told The New York Post that the new line is not only a tactical insurance policy but also a pragmatic response to the city’s increasingly fractured political landscape. With the progressive Working Families Party expected to back its own candidate—potentially Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani or Comptroller Brad Lander—Cuomo’s team is preparing for a general election in which the left-wing vote could splinter, creating an opening for him to consolidate support from moderates, independents, and even center-right voters.

“It’s a smart move,” one Cuomo ally told The New York Post. “He knows there’s a serious risk the Democratic vote will fracture, especially if Mamdani or Lander wins the primary. The Fight and Deliver line gives him a second pathway to the mayoralty.”

According to the source, Cuomo’s strategy is built on a three-pronged analysis: Mamdani or Lander could pull significant votes from the progressive base; Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa is projected to garner at least 30% of the general election vote; and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams—rumored to be weighing an independent run if he loses the Democratic primary—could peel away another 10%. In that scenario, the path to victory would likely hinge on securing a broad coalition outside traditional party lines.

As The New York Post has noted in its ongoing coverage, Cuomo’s return to the political arena comes amid a resurgence in his public profile, fueled in part by a series of high-profile media appearances and a targeted messaging campaign branding him as a steady hand amid urban instability. The “Fight and Deliver” slogan echoes his gubernatorial years, when Cuomo pitched himself as a pragmatic Democrat willing to take on both extremes of the political spectrum.

The proposed ballot line is also a legal and logistical maneuver that reflects New York’s unique election system, where third-party lines can play a pivotal role in shaping outcomes. In past city elections, fusion voting and alternate ballot lines have allowed candidates to cross ideological boundaries and galvanize otherwise untapped voter blocs.

Cuomo’s team appears poised to use that very strategy. The Fight and Deliver line could provide a political home for centrist Democrats uneasy with the party’s leftward shift, Republicans unwilling to back Sliwa, and independents disillusioned with both major parties. The New York Post report pointed out that in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 7 to 1, victory will ultimately depend on who can best navigate a fractured electorate.

Still, Cuomo’s comeback is not without challenges. He remains a polarizing figure following his resignation in the wake of sexual harassment allegations and a contentious final year in office. Yet his supporters argue that his executive experience, name recognition, and combative style could resonate with voters fatigued by rising crime, economic uncertainty, and ideological gridlock.

Whether Cuomo wins the Democratic primary or not, The New York Post report highlighted that his dual-track campaign represents a new blueprint for big-city politics—one that breaks with conventional wisdom and leverages every available electoral tool to maximize voter reach.

If successful, the “Fight and Deliver” line could not only usher Cuomo back into political power but also reshape how future New York City candidates structure their campaigns in an increasingly complex political environment. As the mayoral race heats up, all eyes will now be on whether Cuomo’s bold bet pays off—and whether voters are ready to welcome him back.