Last week, in a sleek Fifth Avenue apartment filled with wealthy Democratic donors, whispers of a political comeback turned into an open plea: Could Andrew Cuomo be the one to save New York City—and stand up to Donald Trump? The former governor, known for his brash and confrontational style, didn’t shy away from the speculation. “He is the bully in the schoolyard,” Cuomo declared, referring to Trump. “If you take one step back, he’s going to keep pushing.”
For many in the room, Cuomo’s words weren’t just analysis—they were a battle cry. With Trump back in the White House, Democrats are desperate for a leader who won’t back down, and some believe Cuomo fits the bill. Even beyond Manhattan’s elite, Brooklyn progressives and moderate voters alike are murmuring about the need for someone tough enough to take on not just Trump, but the city’s spiraling crises—rising crime, a migrant influx, and public disorder that pushed many toward Trump in November’s election.
Despite not officially entering the race, Cuomo is already leading in the polls. Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres threw his support behind him, dismissing the need for a “nice” leader and instead calling for “Mr. Tough Guy.” But just how far would Cuomo go in challenging Trump? His silence since the president’s return to Washington has been conspicuous. Critics have noted that, in the past, he’s been hesitant to call out Trump directly, opting for vague condemnations of “Washington” rather than naming the man himself.
That pattern continued in December when Cuomo appeared on a radio show with former Republican mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis. Instead of attacking Trump, he suggested that the legal cases against him were “political”—a statement that left progressives fuming. It’s a far cry from his 2020 Democratic National Convention speech, where he bashed Trump’s COVID-19 response, prompting a scathing Twitter attack from the former president.
The idea of Cuomo as New York’s next mayor seems increasingly inevitable. Name recognition, nostalgia for his take-charge pandemic briefings, and a yearning for strong leadership all work in his favor. But Cuomo’s past is far from unblemished. If he runs on an anti-corruption platform, expect his opponents to bring up the abrupt dissolution of the Moreland Commission, which he created to investigate state ethics before swiftly shutting it down. His handling of the pandemic, once his defining strength, remains tainted by the nursing home scandal and early vaccine delays.
And yet, none of these issues seem to dim the enthusiasm of his supporters. At last week’s event, political influencer Patricia Duff, venture capitalist Alan Patricof, and literary agent Lynn Nesbit were among those showering him with gratitude. “Everybody wants you to run,” one audience member gushed. “It’s in your blood. We love you. We want you.”
So, will Cuomo step into the ring and take on Trump’s America from City Hall? For now, the waiting game continues—but for many New Yorkers, the answer already seems clear.
