On Saturday, March 22nd, a group of Black elected officials from Queens endorsed former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, dealing a major setback to City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’ late-entry campaign. The move also marks a sharp rebuke to Mayor Eric Adams, who was excluded from the coalition’s rankings.
The eight-member group’s decision to support Cuomo adds to the complexity of Adrienne Adams’ path to victory, as she had hoped to secure strong backing from Southeast Queens, an area with high voter turnout in the 2021 Mayoral election. Despite her ties to Southeast Queens, the lawmakers chose Cuomo as their top pick, citing his leadership experience and ability to address New York City’s challenges.
Most members of the group ranked Adrienne Adams second, while some included Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie as a third choice. The coalition, which included State Senators Leroy Comrie and James Sanders, Assemblymembers Clyde Vanel, Alicia Hyndman, Larinda Hooks, and Khaleel Anderson, and Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers and Nantasha Williams, interviewed several mayoral candidates before making their final decision.
Assemblymember Clyde Vanel praised Cuomo’s leadership, saying, “Cuomo is an outstanding manager and visionary leader. He’s someone we need going forward.” However, not all members agreed. Senator Comrie, a key figure in the coalition, expressed his dissent, stating, “The group supported Cuomo, I didn’t. I dissented. I support Adrienne,” he explained.
Adrienne Adams’ campaign strongly criticized the decision. Spokesperson Lupe Todd-Medina remarked, “It’s sad to see elected officials support a former governor who underfunded schools and closed hospitals in Southeast Queens.” She also accused Cuomo’s campaign of exerting undue pressure, saying, “From the start, we knew the Cuomo camp would use pressure and intimidation because Adrienne is the biggest threat to his comeback tour.”
The endorsement also serves as a setback for Mayor Eric Adams, who relied on many of these lawmakers’ support in his successful 2021 campaign. This time, he was left off their rankings entirely, raising further questions about his reelection prospects.
With the Democratic primary set for June 24th, both Adrienne Adams and Eric Adams now face an uphill battle in reclaiming support from key political allies who have shifted their backing to Cuomo.
