Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is considering a run against his replacement and fellow Democrat, Gov. Kathy Hochul, as part of an attempt at a comeback after resigning in disgrace amid multiple accusations of sexual harassment by former aides, according to people familiar with the matter.
Cuomo, who reluctantly left office last year after denying the harassment allegations, has been fielding calls from supporters about a possible run against his former lieutenant governor. His aides have been conducting their own internal voter polling on a potential matchup, these people explained. Those who declined to be named did so in order to speak freely about private matters.
After a recent public poll from Emerson College and The Hill showed Cuomo was a few points behind Hochul, the former governor received calls from allies encouraging him to run against Hochul, a person close to Cuomo said. That survey, which was published last week, showed Cuomo just four points behind Hochul with likely New York Democratic primary voters. It’s been one of the rare polls showing Cuomo that close to Hochul with primary voters. Hochul is up for reelection in 2022 and is in a primary fight with Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y.
Andrew Cuomo & his cronies intentionally undercounted thousands of nursing home deaths. Where was Kathy Hochul during all this? Complicit or out to lunch? She said nothing about any of it & did nothing to stop it! Thousands of families are still demanding answers & justice. https://t.co/1tqeBGyq3w
— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) March 16, 2022
Scoop: @andrewcuomo is considering running vs. @GovKathyHochul even though there is opposition from leaders of his own party.
He's been fielding calls about a run from supporters since latest Cuomo vs. Hochul poll.Aides doing their own voter polling. https://t.co/6Mws9bzKki— Brian Schwartz (@schwartzbCNBC) March 16, 2022