NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Falling short of endorsing a specific leader, former Gov. David Paterson called on the remaining moderate independent candidates in the New York City mayor's race—namely Mayor Eric Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo—to join forces to defeat the Democratic nominee, Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani.
"It's going to take a united effort, and it's going to take some sacrifice that someone is going to have to make to make this work," Paterson said.
He acknowledged that "the candidates themselves are not going to be able to work this out," noting that business, financial and other leaders will need to funnel money into the campaign of the candidate they wish to uplift in the fight against the up-and-coming democratic socialist.
"If he's the cure to heal the party, then cyanide is the cure for a headache," Paterson said.
During an interview on CNBC on Monday, Adams revealed that after losing the Democratic primary, Cuomo—whose name will appear on the ballot come Election Day but who has not announced a formal general election campaign—asked him to step back from the race.
“I said, Andrew, are you that level of arrogance? I’m the sitting mayor,” Adams said. “I’m the sitting mayor of the city of New York, and you expect for me to step aside when you just lost to [Mamdani] by 12 points.”
Despite leading in the majority of polls following his March candidacy announcement, Cuomo conceded to Mamdani the night of the June 24 primary. He was then formally projected by the New York City Board of Elections to have lost 56% to 44% in the third round.
Last week fellow independent candidate Jim Walden (a career attorney who left the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Eastern District of New York in 2002 for private practice) forwarded a similar proposal that would unite the remaining "free market" candidates against Mamdani and keep him from clinching the general election. If the four potential remaining candidates were to follow Walden's proposal, he, Adams, Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa would back one rival candidate in the general election based on a “rigorous, independent poll conducted weeks before the race.”
In a statement released Monday, Cuomo Spokesman Rich Azzopardi doubled down on the campaign's belief that Adams is "unelectable," stating that "nothing has changed" since he decided to run as an independent. "We do not see any path to victory for Mayor Adams," Azzopardi said.
Despite this open skepticism of Adams' ability to gain traction in the general election, the Cuomo campaign acknowledged that with all candidates in the race they could "split the vote and hand New York City over to socialism and extremism," making Walden's proposal the potential best move to keep Mamdani from Gracie Mansion.
"This is the time to put aside the usual political selfishness and agree to do what is truly best for all New Yorkers. While we review this proposal, we call on other candidates to do the same," Azzopardi concluded.
In response to the Walden and Paterson's proposals and the ongoing conversation among independent candidates about whether to mount their campaigns, Mamdani's coalition leaned back on the mass support he was able find in the primary and his specific campaign promises that have resonated with New York City voters.
“More than 545,000 New Yorkers voted for Zohran Mamdani, the most votes any Democratic primary candidate has received in 36 years," a campaign statement read. "In the coming months, Zohran looks forward to growing this coalition and reaching new voters with his vision for an affordable New York City and his plan to deliver universal childcare, fast and free buses, and a rent-freeze for more than 2 million New Yorkers.”