Latest news with #mayoralcampaign
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
The ‘new' Andrew Cuomo hits the streets of NYC: Will it be enough?
NEW YORK — As ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo tries to reboot his mayoral campaign, promising to deploy a more expansive and effective ground game than he did in the primary, so far he's largely pounding the pavement in neighborhoods that supported him in the primary. Cuomo vowed to switch up his approach to the race when he announced on July 14 he was staying in the race as an independent. He conceded he 'played it safe' in the primary against Zohran Mamdani and promised to 'meet voters where they are' and be more aggressive in his attacks. Since the relaunch, Cuomo's campaign has posted footage of the ex-governor visiting housing complexes in the Bronx and Queens, East New York and Brownsville, Staten Island and the Upper West Side — gravitating toward spots Cuomo either won or in which he was competitive in the primary. 'In the early stages of the general election, it seems like he is spending his candidate time in similar areas that his campaign prioritized in the primary,' Democratic strategist Trip Yang said. Yang noted that neighborhoods with more moderate primary voters likely will also have more moderate general election voters — a key segment of the electorate for Cuomo. Places that turned out well for Cuomo in June are somewhat likely to turn out for him in November, too, Yang noted. But the strategist said it seems Cuomo is 'playing it somewhat safe' by visiting places where he did relatively well. Cuomo has shied away from places like Williamsburg, Astoria and Park Slope, where Mamdani beat him by wide margins and the ex-gov is unlikely to break through, especially running on an independent line. 'Are we going to [Democratic Socialists of America] clubhouses? No,' Rich Azzopardi, Cuomo's spokesman, told the Daily News. 'This is a new campaign and we'll be everywhere and talking to everybody,' Azzopardi added. 'Some of the areas we've been in we did well in in the primary, some we came up short, but in all cases we believe there's room to improve especially with a general electorate and more eyes on the race as we head toward November.' The campaign noted that, in total, Cuomo has been in 16 neighborhoods since his relaunch, including Midtown, Washington Heights and Hollis, Queens, and plans to visit Jackson Heights, East Harlem and Gowanus over the weekend. The candidate, who was criticized for his 'rose garden' strategy in the primary, has been a bit more accessible to the press so far in his general run, doing a number of one-on-one interviews with reporters. Cuomo said on Wednesday that he's banking on a 'different audience' in the November election. 'It's a different electorate,' he said on CNBC. 'It's bigger, it's more moderate. It's more Queens, outer borough. You have independents, you have Republicans voting. So it's a totally different ball game in the general.' The campaign also appears to be taking taken a cue from Mamdani, posting more casual, conversational videos of the ex-governor. Mamdani's ground outreach effort, paired with an aggressive social media presence, is widely credited as helping spread his affordability-centric messaging. Cuomo is seen in the videos shaking hands with locals on the street, visiting senior centers and ordering food at local restaurants in places like Co-op City, where he beat Mamdani by over 45 points, and Lefrak City, where he won by over 30 points. 'Cuomo looks like he's had a couple more sips of coffee but it may not be strong enough,' Yang said of the campaign's efforts to switch things up. Cuomo is facing an array of challenges. Mamdani won the primary by 13 points in an upset victory that took the political establishment and wealthy donor class largely by surprise. Unions, including those that backed Cuomo in the primary, and powerful politicians like Rep. Adriano Espaillat have endorsed him in recent weeks. Cuomo is also battling incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, with both candidates staking out more moderate, business-friendly positions than Mamdani. Some donors who backed Cuomo in the primary are gravitating to Adams as the best bet at defeating the democratic socialist Mamdani. Adams has seen a surge in fundraising dollars and collected the endorsements of various law enforcement unions.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
The ‘new' Andrew Cuomo hits the streets of NYC: Will it be enough?
As ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo tries to reboot his mayoral campaign, promising to deploy a more expansive and effective ground game than he did in the primary, so far he's largely pounding the pavement in neighborhoods that supported him in the primary. Cuomo vowed to switch up his approach to the race when he announced on July 14 he was staying in the race as an independent. He conceded he 'played it safe' in the primary against Zohran Mamdani and promised to 'meet voters where they are' and be more aggressive in his attacks. Since the re-launch, Cuomo's campaign has posted footage of the ex-governor visiting housing complexes in the Bronx and Queens, East New York and Brownsville, Staten Island and the Upper West Side – gravitating toward spots Cuomo either won or in which he was competitive in the primary. 'In the early stages of the general election, it seems like he is spending his candidate time in similar areas that his campaign prioritized in the primary,' Democratic strategist Trip Yang said. Yang noted that neighborhoods with more moderate primary voters likely will also have more moderate general election voters — a key segment of the electorate for Cuomo. Places that turned out well for Cuomo in June are somewhat likely to turn out for him in November, too, Yang noted. But the strategist said it seems Cuomo is 'playing it somewhat safe' by visiting places where he did relatively well. Cuomo has shied away from places like Williamsburg, Astoria and Park Slope, where Mamdani beat him by wide margins and the ex-gov is unlikely to break through, especially running on an independent line. 'Are we going to [Democratic Socialists of America] clubhouses? No,' Rich Azzopardi, Cuomo's spokesman, told the Daily News. 'This is a new campaign and we'll be everywhere and talking to everybody,' Azzopardi added. 'Some of the areas we've been in we did well in in the primary, some we came up short, but in all cases we believe there's room to improve especially with a general electorate and more eyes on the race as we head toward November.' The campaign noted that, in total, Cuomo has been in sixteen neighborhoods since his re-launch, including Midtown, Washington Heights and Hollis, Queens, and plans to visit Jackson Heights, East Harlem and Gowanus over the weekend. The candidate, who was criticized for his 'rose garden' strategy in the primary, has been a bit more accessible to the press so far in his general run, doing a number of one-on-one interviews with reporters. Cuomo said on Wednesday that he's banking on a 'different audience' in the November election. 'It's a different electorate,' he said on CNBC. 'It's bigger, it's more moderate. It's more Queens, outer borough. You have independents, you have Republicans voting. So it's a totally different ball game in the general.' The campaign also appears to be taking taken a cue from Mamdani, posting more casual, conversational videos of the ex-governor. Mamdani's ground outreach effort, paired with an aggressive social media presence, is widely credited as helping spread his affordability-centric messaging. Cuomo is seen in the videos shaking hands with locals on the street, visiting senior centers and ordering food at local restaurants in places like Co-op City, where he beat Mamdani by over 45 points, and Lefrak City, where he won by over 30 points. 'Cuomo looks like he's had a couple more sips of coffee but it may not be strong enough,' Yang said of the campaign's efforts to switch things up. Cuomo is facing an array of challenges. Mamdani won the primary by 13 points in an upset victory that took the political establishment and wealthy donor class largely by surprise. Unions, including those that backed Cuomo in the primary, and powerful politicians like Rep. Adriano Espaillat have endorsed him in recent weeks. Cuomo is also battling incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, with both candidates staking out more moderate, business-friendly positions than Mamdani. Some donors who backed Cuomo in the primary are gravitating to Adams as the best bet at defeating the democratic socialist Mamdani. Adams has seen a surge in fundraising dollars and collected the endorsements of various law enforcement unions. Solve the daily Crossword
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Edmonton mayoral candidate apologizes after missing infill vote
Edmonton mayoral candidate and current councillor Tim Cartmell has apologized after he missed a vote on changing the rules surrounding infill in the city. Cartmell has made infill a hallmark of his campaign.
Forbes
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Mamdani Defies Corporate Dems, But Workers Back His Free Bus Fare Plan
Zohran Mamdani takes the subway betweenr campaign events on May 27. (Photo by Andrew ... More Lichtenstein/Corbis) A top New York City labor leader says mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is succeeding for the same reason Donald Trump has succeeded: 'In the eyes of working people, he is the antidote to what has plagued his party. 'This is about working people with establishment fatigue, exhausted with same old, same old, corporate Democrats and Republicans catering to corporate interests,' said John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union and former president of TWU Local 100, the historic local that represents New York City subway and bus workers. 'Zohran smashed establishment Democrats,' Samuelsen said. 'He talks about economic security and affordability for working people. He focused on economics. Trump did the same thing in 2016: Now it's ten years later and Democrats still have not learned the lesson. 'Imagine how desolate the Democrats are that a Democrat running on affordability is an anti-establishment Democrat. That's nuts. But Zohran learned the lesson,' he said. TWU has not endorsed Mamdani. However, Samuelsen strongly backs Mamdani's plan for free bus service. 'I've spoken to him at length about his positions on public transit, as far back as four years ago,' Samuelsen said. 'His discussions with TWU have shaped his vision for public transit. That separates him from the crowd: he has the humility to come and speak with the union.' Mamdani was elected to the state assembly in 2020. He championed a 2023 pilot program to test free busses on five NYC routes. The New York City Central Labor Council, a coalition of over 300 unions, endorsed Mamdani on June 30 following his victory in the June 25th Democratic primary. Samuelsen is among the council's most visible members. Samuelsen made a surprise appearance at a June 14th Mamdani rally on June 14. Before a cheering crowd, he endorsed the free bus plan, which would be likely to substantially diminish assaults on bus drivers seeking to collect bus fare. 'I'm here for one reason tonight: that reason is to talk about Zohran's policy on public transit, particularly fare free busses,' Samuelsen proclaimed. 'Three pillars to get out of urban poverty are quality education, quality health care and robust public transit,' he said. 'Tie all those together, and our kids have a chance of escaping the type of urban blight that we've been subjected to all these years.' 'Zohran of all the mayoral candidates recognizes this,' he said. 'Only Zohran reached out to the workers to say I have policies on public transit, what does the union think?' First elected president of Local 100 in 2009, Samuelsen served two terms before being elected TWU international president in 2017. He has ongoing relationships with Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo. As for a TWU endorsement, Samuelsen said 'There are ongoing conversations. They may or may not lead to an endorsement.' He noted that he has relationships with all three mayor candidates. Adams 'is a working-class guy from the streets of New York who has support among our membership,' Samuelsen said. 'He took crime in the transit system, subway and bus, very seriously. There is a level of appreciation from our membership and from the officers of the TWU. He's not perfect. Nobody's perfect.' Cuomo said Monday that he will run as a third-party candidate. Samuelsen said Cuomo betrayed TWU workers when he committed to a bill that includes overtime earnings in pension calculations, then vetoed it. 'I talk to him,' Samuelsen said. 'It's not personal. We just can't trust him.' Mamdani, meanwhile, 'is a dynamic candidate, and he has support as well' within Local 100. In upcoming subway contract talks, 'We don't bargain with the city, but I think he would be supportive of the TWU in our contract fight and our fight to keep conductors on the trains,' Samuelsen said. Regarding Mamdani's controversial stand on the Middle East conflict, Samuelsen said, 'Our position is we will endorse candidates on their economic positions as it relates to TWU members.' In the end, if Mamdani wins, 'We will have to see how he governs,' Samuelsen said. 'He is focused on affordability. If he effectuates his campaign agenda, it will look great for Democrats in the rest of the country. But on the policing side, if New York spins out of control, that negates the affordability.' TWU has about 48,000 members in New York City including 42,000 members of Local 100 and about 6,000 flight attendants at JetBlue. Nationally, TWU has about 161,000 members and is the largest airline union, with members at American, JetBlue, Southwest and others.
RNZ News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Slinging match as dirty politics engulfs Wellington mayoral race
Wellington City Councillor Ray Chung says and email he wrote to three fellow councillors in 2023 about an alleged sex encounter involving Mayor Tory Whanau has been released to discredit his mayoral campaign. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Wellington mayoral candidate Ray Chung says he regrets writing an email with third-hand claims about incumbent Mayor Tory Whanau, but believes the email's release was an attempt to discredit him and his campaign. Chung sent an email, seen by RNZ, to three fellow councillors in early 2023 recounting a story he'd been told by his neighbour about the neighbour's son allegedly having a sexual encounter with the mayor. The email surfaced last week. Whanau rejected the contents of the email and said it was false and contained a "malicious and sexist" rumour. In a video statement on social media Chung said the email was released deliberately to discredit him. "This attack on me and our Independent Together candidates is designed to undermine our campaign," he said. Chung had previously indicated he would be apologising to the mayor in the video. He had told Morning Report on Friday he wouldn't object to apologising. But in his Sunday statement he said, "I regret writing it and I regret sharing it with people whom I thought trustworthy". Chung said since the email's contents had surfaced he had encountered abuse in public. High-profile donor and philanthropist Sir Mark Dunajtschik had also withdrawn his support for Chung saying he did not support his behaviour. Chung said the email's release was a "blatant political attack". "I have not and will not conduct personal attacks against other candidates in the selection," he said. "I will play the ball, not the person." "Dirty politics will not be tolerated. I will call it out," he said. Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has slammed Ray Chung's campaign as being characterised dirty politics. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Tory Whanau said Chung's campaign was characterised by "unethical and dirty politics". "Ray Chung's recent actions and public statements reflect a significant lack of accountability and a disregard for basic decency," she said in a statement. Whanau said the city deserved elected members who upheld the highest standards of respect, honesty, and integrity. "It is also important to emphasise that this poor behaviour has not occurred in isolation; it has been enabled by some councillors, lobby groups, mayoral candidates, and a few members of the media," she said. "I hope they also take this moment to reflect on their respective roles and consider how we can collectively create a respectful environment. "Those who wish to stand for public office, particularly women and Māori, deserve this. Our constituents deserve this too." Other media report that Whanau released the email. RNZ has sought clarification from the Mayor's office about who gave the email to the New Zealand Herald , which first reported the story. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
