Cuomo's Comeback
Andrew Cuomo shot to national fame in 2020 for his daily pandemic briefings as governor of New York. His political star fell just a year later, when he resigned in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal. Now he is attempting a comeback in the New York City mayor's race.
The race has been turbulent. The incumbent, Eric Adams, was indicted on federal corruption charges that the Trump administration later dismissed. He is running for re-election, but not as a Democrat. That means the party's nomination is up for grabs, and nearly a dozen candidates are on the ballot.
Recent polls show that Cuomo is roughly 10 percentage points ahead of the No. 2 candidate, Zohran Mamdani.
The Democrats' final debate is tonight, and the primary is June 24. In today's newsletter, I'll answer some questions about Cuomo's campaign, the field of competitors and what it all means for Democrats.
Why is Cuomo ahead?
He has broad name recognition after having served more than a decade as governor. He also has a huge campaign war chest and a $10 million super PAC behind him.
His critics point to his baggage: the sexual harassment allegations, his handling of nursing home deaths during the pandemic, his vindictive management style.
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Republicans, some Democrats and even ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich weigh in on ex-Speaker Michael Madigan's sentence
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Secret Service Followed Protocol in Padilla Incident
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"This was a deliberate attempt to intimidate an elected official whose only offense is standing up for the voiceless," Schumer said. "But its not just about Sen. Padilla, its about every person who dares to speak truth to power." Republicans and conservative commentators countered that it was all a big publicity stunt and noted that a Padilla staffer filmed the tussle and then quickly distributed it to the media in the room. "Sen. Padilla didnt want answers - he wanted airtime," Rep. Byron Donalds said on Fox News Thursday night. "Shoving past security for a viral moment is a stunt, not leadership. If he cared about solutions, hed have asked for a meeting. But like most Democrats, he just wants the spotlight." "Alex Padilla is an embarrassment to California," said Steve Hilton, who is running for governor in California as a Republican. "Hes a complete nonentity. Thats why they didnt recognize him … [he has] zero accomplishments and now this pathetic stunt as his only claim to fame." 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Padilla, the agency said, "interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on as he lunged toward Secretary Noem." "Mr. Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers repeated commands," the department added. "@Secret Service thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately." Several other Secret Service sources backed up Marinos account. "Any sudden movement towards a protectee that feels threatening, especially when that person has not been identified, the policy is 100% to prevent further escalation or movement toward Noem," said a source in the Secret Service community. "We would have done the same thing for anyone threatening [former DHS Secretary] Mayorkas." Even though the situation escalated very quickly, the agent still followed the basic rules of engagement for law enforcement, the source asserted. 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The agency has been knocked around for months for the egregious security failures in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 and then nearly two months later during another close call against Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course. And just because its Padilla who was attending a press conference doesnt mean assaults against a Cabinet secretary or president are unlikely to occur. During a December 2008 press conference in Iraq, an Iraqi journalist threw both of his shoes at former President George W. Bush in a pique of outrage. Secret Service agents with their zero-fail mission have to be poised to respond to all types of unexpected threats, which sometimes come with no warning at all. Back in 2005, during Bushs visit to the country of Georgia, a man attempted to assassinate Bush and then-Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili by throwing a hand grenade at both of them. "Listen, we dont always know who you are if youre not wearing your [congressional] pin," the source said. "Youre coming at [Noem] in an aggressive manner, and you didnt heed our warnings to stop. If you get into the buffer zone, we have to take you down. All public officials should know, and I would hope understand, that." Susan Crabtree is RealClearPolitics' national political correspondent.
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Senator Nicole Mitchell's trial for 2024 burglary charge starts Monday
The Brief Minnesota Senator Nicole Mitchell's trial for a burglary charge starts Monday morning in Becker County. Mitchell, a DFL lawmaker representing Woodbury, is accused of breaking into her stepmother's home in Detroit Lakes in April of 2024. She said her father had just died, and wanted some of his personal belongings her stepmother wouldn't give her. Mitchell was supposed to go to trial in January, but it got pushed back so she could finish her work with the Minnesota Legislature. BECKER CO., Minn. (FOX 9) - A Minnesota senator accused of breaking into her stepmother's Detroit Lakes home in April 2024 heads to trial on Monday. What we know Nicole Mitchell, a DFL Senator who represents Woodbury, pleaded not guilty to one count of burglary after she was arrested inside her stepmother's Detroit Lakes home back in April 2024. On Feb. 6. 2025, an additional charge for possession of burglary or theft tools was added. Mitchell was originally scheduled for trial in January, but got it pushed back so she could finish out the legislative session. That ended earlier this week in a special session. The trial starts Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. in Becker County, and cameras are being allowed in the courtroom. That means you can see daily clips of the trial on and on FOX 9's YouTube page. Timeline A criminal complaint states Detroit Lakes police responded to a reported burglary at a home around 4:45 a.m. on April 22, 2024. At the scene, police found Mitchell in the home's basement dressed in all black. Officers say they also found a flashlight covered with a black sock on Mitchell. Officers searched for a black backpack that was stuck in a window at the scene and recovered two laptops, a cellphone, a driver's license, Senate identification and miscellaneous Tupperware, according to the complaint. Mitchell reportedly told investigators she was "just trying to get some of my dad's things" and added "clearly, I'm not good at this." The complaint states that Mitchell explained to police that her father had just died, and she wanted sentimental items her stepmother refused to give to her. Mitchell said those include her father's ashes, pictures, clothes and other sentimental items. What they're saying In May of 2024, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and democratic leaders called for Mitchell to resign after she was charged with the burglary. She appeared before the Senate's Ethical Conduct Subcommittee in May of 2024 as members considered whether the lawmaker adhered to the highest standards of ethical conduct required of a state senator. However, she refused to answer questions and invoked her 5th Amendment rights. While Democrats have previously argued to allow for due process before taking action, the Minnesota DFL Chairman Ken Martin released a statement Thursday morning calling for her resignation. "The Minnesota DFL believes that all elected officials should be held accountable, including members of our own party. While Sen. Mitchell is entitled to her day in court, her continued refusal to take responsibility for her actions is beneath her office and has become a distraction for her district and the Legislature. Now that her constituents have had full representation through the end of the legislative session, it is time for her to resign to focus on the personal and legal challenges she faces," said Martin.
