NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Despite a political comeback tour and campaign-style ads to defend his record, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo will not be on the Democratic gubernatorial primary ballot this June — missing a key deadline on Thursday evening to be placed on the party ballot.
While the disgraced politician will not go head-to-head in a challenge with his successor and former lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul, Cuomo could still run as an independent candidate in the November general election.
Rather than the 15,000 signatures needed to be on the Democratic primary ballot, the 64-year-old would have until May 31 to collect the required 45,000 signatures for participation on the Nov. 8 ballot, including at least 500 signatures from each of New York's 26 congressional districts.
A source close to Cuomo told The New York Post that the former three-term governor would likely not run as an independent for governor because he could take votes away from the Democrats, though it's not off the table.
When asked if he would consider forming his own political party or running as an independent, he told reporters during his second public appearance at a Bronx church in mid-March that he is "open to all options."
"I’ve done it before," Cuomo said, in a reference to his 2014 creation of the "Women’s Equality Party."
However, it appears there could be an appetite for the life-long Democrat in a gubernatorial party race — with a major caveat.
Cuomo, who resigned last August amid the threat of impeachment after 11 women came forward to accuse him of sexual assault, only trailed Hochul by four points in a Democratic primary poll last month. However, 63% of New Yorkers said Cuomo should not seek office again.
Meanwhile, Democratic New York Rep. Tom Suozzi and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams have both secured the necessary signatures to be on the ballot, campaign representatives told The Post.
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