Eric Adams Blasts Cuomo for “Taking Votes” as Four-Way Mayoral Race Threatens to Split NYC’s Moderate Vote

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In a fiery exchange that further intensifies an already volatile New York City mayoral race, Mayor Eric Adams lashed out at former Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday, accusing the once-disgraced state executive of “taking votes away” from his reelection campaign. As The New York Post reported, Adams is increasingly concerned that Cuomo’s insurgent candidacy as an independent could fracture the moderate Democratic vote and clear a path for a far-left candidate to clinch victory in November.

“He’s taking votes away from me — I’m the mayor! Why is he in my race?” Adams exclaimed during a press conference at City Hall, as quoted by The New York Post.

“It’s almost like when you have a house somewhere and someone is trying to move in — it’s like, go find your own house.”

The mayor’s unusually candid remarks shine a proverbial spotlight on the growing anxiety within centrist Democratic circles that the 2025 general election could evolve into a chaotic four-way battle, possibly resulting in a surprise win for a Working Families Party-backed socialist candidate such as Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani or New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.

Adams’ comments came on the same day that The New York Post reported the formation of a new super PAC, Empower NYC, created by civil rights attorneys Abe George and Eric Lerner to bolster Adams’ independent reelection campaign. The PAC operates independently of Adams’ official campaign but has vowed to inject energy and resources into what its founders see as a general-election-only battle.

“The Mayor has effectively skipped the playoffs and gone straight to the championship,” said Abe George, Empower NYC’s chairman, in a statement to The New York Post.

“That means Empower NYC can focus its energy and resources on the race that will actually decide the future of this city.”

Adams, who is still navigating the aftermath of a now-dropped federal bribery case, has raised $4.4 million in private donations but was denied taxpayer matching funds by the City’s Campaign Finance Board (CFB). According to the report in The New York Post, the denial stemmed from his indictment status at the time — a case that was formally dismissed in early April.

Nevertheless, Adams remains saddled with a $3 million legal bill owed to his high-profile attorney Alex Spiro, making the role of outside fundraising and independent PACs all the more critical to his political survival.

Cuomo, who has steadily mounted a political comeback despite a scandal-driven resignation in 2021, has reportedly raised $1.5 million in private contributions and another $2 million via a super PAC, The New York Post report confirmed. However, he was disqualified from the most recent round of public matching funds due to an administrative misstep — a potentially costly error in a race increasingly shaped by fundraising firepower.

His campaign remains bullish nonetheless. In a pointed rebuke to Adams’ criticism, Cuomo spokesman Jason Elan told The New York Post: “Nobody ‘owns’ anyone’s vote — the people of New York make the decision and they want proven, tested leadership that is competent and can get things done — which is why poll after poll shows they overwhelmingly support Governor Cuomo.”

While Adams and Cuomo battle for centrist and center-left voters, the Working Families Party (WFP) is pursuing its own strategy, seeking to capitalize on a fractured moderate vote by elevating a left-wing challenger to the November ballot. Their favored candidate is Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist and Assemblyman from Queens.

As The New York Post reported, Mamdani has already maxed out his fundraising capacity, reaching over $8 million — including public matching funds — giving him a considerable financial edge over his rivals. His campaign has gained momentum in progressive circles, where Adams’ record on policing and housing has drawn fierce criticism.

In an increasingly polarized electorate, a Cuomo-Adams split could provide Mamdani with a path to victory — particularly if WFP succeeds in securing him a spot on its ballot line for the general election.

The specter of a four-way general election — featuring Adams, Cuomo, Mamdani, and possibly Brad Lander — has sent shockwaves through Democratic strategists and political analysts alike. The New York Post report noted that such an outcome would not only be unprecedented in recent NYC political history but could fundamentally reshape the city’s ideological trajectory.

While Adams attempts to rebrand himself as an independent capable of bridging divides, and Cuomo attempts to reclaim political relevance, the risk remains that both could cannibalize the moderate vote — handing victory to the most organized and energized leftist campaign.

As The New York Post report indicates, Mayor Adams finds himself in the uncomfortable position of being both an incumbent and a political outsider — forced to fend off an emboldened former governor from his own ideological lane while navigating an energized and well-funded progressive movement.

With Empower NYC ramping up its support, Cuomo sharpening his appeal to disillusioned moderates, and the Working Families Party mobilizing behind Mamdani, New York City is bracing for an unpredictable and possibly transformative mayoral election.

For now, one thing is clear: the 2025 race for Gracie Mansion is no longer just about incumbency or ideology — it’s about survival in a splintered political landscape.