The 2025 New York City mayoral election is set to take place on November 4, with the stakes higher than ever. Mamdani maintains a commanding lead; Cuomo and his fellow candidate Curtis Sliwa remain committed to the race. Though Cuomo is a Democrat, Trump has endorsed him, urging voters not to elect Mamdani.
“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday evening. “He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!”
Who is Andrew Cuomo?
Andrew Cuomo is the son of the late Governor Mario Cuomo. Cuomo served as the Governor of New York from 2011 to 2021.
However, his tenure ended controversially after he resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment, which he has consistently denied.
Before becoming governor, Cuomo served as New York’s Attorney General from 2007 to 2010, where he gained national attention for prosecuting public corruption and financial misconduct, particularly during the 2008 financial crisis.
He also held major roles at the federal level, including as the US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) during the Clinton administration.
Cuomo grew up in Queens and graduated from Fordham University in 1979 before earning a law degree from Albany Law School in 1982.
After law school, Cuomo became involved in politics, managing his father’s successful 1982 gubernatorial campaign and later serving as a senior adviser in the state administration.
In 1986, he founded Housing Enterprise for the Less Privileged (HELP), a nonprofit providing transitional housing for homeless families. He also chaired the New York City Commission on the Homeless in 1991.
In 1993, Cuomo joined the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development and was appointed as HUD Secretary by President Bill Clinton in 1997.
After leaving HUD in 2001, Cuomo served as New York State Attorney General from 2007 to 2010, where he became known for his crackdown on public corruption and financial misconduct.
His tenure as governor from 2011 to 2021 included major infrastructure projects, such as the Mario M Cuomo Bridge, renovations to LaGuardia and JFK airports, the Moynihan Train Hall, and the Second Avenue Subway expansion.
Cuomo was married to Kerry Kennedy in 1990, and they have three daughters, though they divorced in 2005. He later had a long-term relationship with television host Sandra Lee.
Cuomo’s net worth
As of 2025, Cuomo’s net worth is estimated to be between $10 million and $13 million. His wealth comes from his political career, major book deals, and private consulting work.
Key financial contributors include a $5.1 million book deal for his memoir on the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as earnings from his legal consulting firm, Innovation Strategies LLC, which made over $500,000 in 2024.
Additionally, Cuomo holds stock options from an advisory role at a nuclear energy startup and collects a state pension of approximately $50,000 annually.
Proposed policies
As part of his housing policy, Cuomo plans to build more affordable housing units, as well as improve conditions at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). He supports enhanced tenant protections, including the right to eviction counsel, and calls for stricter enforcement of rent stabilisation laws.
Cuomo has made tackling the city’s high cost of living a cornerstone of his platform. He acknowledges that New York has “always been expensive,” but argues that it is increasingly becoming unaffordable for millions of residents.
To address this, he proposes the construction of 50,000 new affordable homes, as well as expanded healthcare and transit subsidies, such as the Fair Fares programme. Cuomo also advocates for a 2% cap on property taxes for distressed homeowners, as well as targeted tax relief and job creation initiatives.
On education, Cuomo is focused on reducing class sizes and increasing the number of school-based health centers, particularly in high-poverty districts.
He also plans to tackle “chronic absenteeism” and high teacher turnover by improving working conditions, increasing safety, and improving better engagement with parents.
A key aspect of his education policy includes expanding career technical education (CTE) programs through private sector partnerships.
Cuomo is committed to improving public safety and security, especially within the subway system. He plans to increase the number of NYPD officers by 5,000 and implement a data-driven approach to policing.
His public safety vision includes deploying officers to address quality-of-life crimes, improving subway conditions, and tackling street homelessness. He also supports bonuses for police retention.
He aims to expand mental health and addiction services, with a focus on providing greater support within schools.
His homelessness policy includes more targeted outreach and a more rigorous use of involuntary commitment for individuals at risk of harming themselves or others.
He also advocates for reducing chronic homelessness through enhanced outreach efforts.