By: Andrew Carlson

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is set to receive a significant boost in his quest to reclaim political relevance, as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3 prepares to endorse his mayoral campaign on Saturday. The union, representing more than 29,000 electricians and electrical workers, will formally throw its weight behind Cuomo during Manhattan’s annual Labor Day Parade, delivering his first major union endorsement of the general election.

The development marks a turning point in a race already shaped by high drama, ideological battles, and the shadow of Cuomo’s past political controversies. According to a report that appeared on Saturday in The New York Post, the Local 3 backing is more than just symbolic; it represents a calculated rejection of Democratic Socialist frontrunner Zohran Mamdani and signals that organized labor may be shifting back toward Cuomo after initially distancing itself from the scandal-scarred former governor.

Local 3 of the IBEW is among the city’s most powerful trade unions, long considered a bellwether in municipal elections. With a history of mobilizing tens of thousands of workers and families, its support is often seen as a stamp of legitimacy for candidates seeking credibility with blue-collar voters.

“IBEW Local 3 has always been more than just a union—it has been a force for fairness, dignity, and opportunity for working families,” Cuomo said in a statement provided to The New York Post. “This endorsement is deeply meaningful to me because we have walked this road together for decades. From building airports, bridges, and tunnels, to standing up for fair wages and safe working conditions, IBEW Local 3 has been at the heart of New York’s progress.”

Christopher Erikson, Local 3’s business manager, framed the endorsement as a repudiation of Mamdani’s brand of politics. “Strong trade unions are the path to the middle class and economic security for working men and women, and Andrew Cuomo has stood hand in hand with unions for decades,” Erikson told The New York Post. He added, pointedly: “Andrew is the best candidate to ensure NYC’s stability and to raise the standards for all working people. Neither DSA nor socialism is the answer for NYC or America.”

Cuomo’s general election campaign comes on the heels of a stunning upset in the Democratic primary, where he was toppled by Mamdani, a Queens assemblyman and prominent member of the Democratic Socialists of America. For many observers, Mamdani’s primary victory was emblematic of the left’s rising clout in city politics, while Cuomo’s loss seemed to confirm that his political brand — once synonymous with establishment power — was fading.

But the Local 3 endorsement underscores a potential opening for Cuomo to claw his way back into contention. A senior Cuomo operative, speaking to The New York Post, boasted that other unions currently undecided would “soon follow” Local 3’s lead. “While a lot of unions were quick to jump ship out of political weakness, there are a lot more who are absolutely not interested in getting in bed with a socialist,” the source said.

For Cuomo, the narrative is clear: while Mamdani energized progressive activists, he alienated moderate Democrats and trade unionists wary of socialism’s economic implications.

The endorsement does more than bolster Cuomo’s campaign; it signals a broader pushback against the Democratic Socialist agenda in New York. Local 3, deeply entrenched in traditional organized labor politics, has historically viewed itself as a defender of working-class pathways to the middle class. Its leadership’s denunciation of socialism highlights a fault line within the Democratic coalition: progressive activists versus labor unions that prioritize bread-and-butter issues over ideological purity.

As The New York Post has observed in its coverage of the race, unions such as Local 3 see stability and practical economic gains as paramount — a far cry from Mamdani’s calls for structural transformation, which some union leaders fear could destabilize industries that provide steady union jobs.

Despite his rocky exit from the governor’s office in 2021 amid scandal, Cuomo has long cultivated ties with organized labor. His governorship was marked by large infrastructure projects — airports, bridges, and tunnels — that provided steady employment for union members.

“From building airports, bridges, and tunnels to standing up for fair wages and safe working conditions,” Cuomo said in his statement to The New York Post, “IBEW Local 3 has been at the heart of New York’s progress.” By reminding voters of his infrastructure record, Cuomo seeks to reframe himself not as a relic of a tainted political past but as a proven ally of working-class families.

For Mamdani, who has positioned himself as the voice of New York’s progressive insurgency, the Local 3 endorsement represents a formidable obstacle. While he can count on activist enthusiasm, grassroots energy, and national attention from the left, union support remains a powerful force in New York City politics.

Cuomo’s allies see Mamdani as untested and inexperienced. As Erikson put it bluntly in remarks to The New York Post, Mamdani’s DSA platform is not what working-class New Yorkers need: “Neither DSA nor socialism is the answer for NYC or America.”

Mamdani’s campaign will likely counter that Cuomo represents an old, failed model of establishment politics, tainted by scandal and incapable of delivering the structural reforms needed to address housing, inequality, and climate change. But whether that argument resonates with voters in a general election remains to be seen.

The endorsement’s timing — at the city’s annual Labor Day Parade — carries its own symbolism. Labor Day has long been an occasion for unions to flex their political muscle, and Local 3’s decision to announce its support for Cuomo at the parade underscores the message that organized labor is rallying against socialism’s encroachment into New York politics.

For Cuomo, the optics are invaluable. Surrounded by thousands of union members on a day dedicated to labor solidarity, he can cast himself as the candidate of stability, pragmatism, and working-class values. For Mamdani, the parade will serve as a reminder of the difficult task ahead: convincing skeptical union workers that socialism offers a better future.

The general election for New York City’s mayoralty is fast becoming a study in contrasts. Cuomo, 66, is the embodiment of establishment politics — seasoned, scarred, but experienced. Mamdani, 33, is the insurgent, buoyed by youthful energy and a progressive movement eager to topple the old guard.

As The New York Post report noted, Cuomo’s team is eager to frame the race as one between competence and chaos, stability and radicalism. The Local 3 endorsement gives Cuomo a potent talking point: that organized labor, representing tens of thousands of working families, trusts him over Mamdani.

While the Local 3 endorsement is significant, it does not guarantee Cuomo victory. Mamdani’s grassroots base remains energized, and other unions may decide to align with the socialist candidate if they believe the political winds are shifting. Moreover, Cuomo still faces lingering skepticism from voters who have not forgotten the controversies that ended his governorship.

Yet Cuomo’s allies believe the tide is turning. One operative told The New York Post that the Local 3 endorsement would be the “first domino,” predicting a cascade of union support in the coming weeks. If that happens, Cuomo could mount a formidable comeback, transforming what once looked like a lost cause into a serious contest.

The Local 3 endorsement represents more than just a tactical win for Andrew Cuomo; it signals a broader realignment in New York City politics. By siding with Cuomo and rejecting Mamdani’s socialist agenda, one of the city’s largest and most influential unions has made a clear statement about the kind of leadership it believes New York needs.

As The New York Post report has emphasized, the stakes of the mayoral race extend far beyond the five boroughs. The outcome will test whether socialism’s rise in urban politics can withstand the pushback of traditional power centers like organized labor — and whether a scandal-shadowed governor can reinvent himself as the champion of working families.

For Cuomo, the road back to power begins with Local 3. For Mamdani, the challenge now is to prove that the energy of a progressive movement can outweigh the muscle of the unions. The contest promises to be one of the most closely watched political battles in America, with the future of New York City — and perhaps the direction of the Democratic Party — hanging in the balance.