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Many political, business and union leaders who castigated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and pressed him to resign have done an about-face and support his run for mayor.
April 6, 2025, 12:48 p.m. ET
Back in 2021, when Andrew M. Cuomo’s governorship was in free fall, the real estate developer Jeff Gural was clear about what he thought of the man: “He’s smart, but he’s a bully, and his tactics are a disgrace.”
Representative Ritchie Torres took a graver tone against Mr. Cuomo, declaring that New York was “no longer governable under his leadership” amid mounting sexual harassment claims.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a leading exponent of women’s rights, called the accusations “deeply, deeply troubling.” The remarks were part of a Democratic pile-on that helped force a reluctant Mr. Cuomo to resign.
How quickly things can change.
Not quite four years later, as Mr. Cuomo attempts a comeback as a candidate for mayor of New York City, the state’s powerful Democratic establishment now appears more interested in getting back in his good graces than in stopping him.
It is a striking about-face that may prove to be a defining feature of June’s Democratic primary. The born-again Cuomo supporters include elected officials, business titans and labor unions whose collective influence could push Mr. Cuomo to victory — whiplash be damned.
Mr. Gural recently donated $2,100 to Mr. Cuomo’s campaign. Mr. Torres gave his blessing to “the resurrection of Andrew Cuomo” before he even entered the race. Representative Gregory W. Meeks, the Queens Democratic chairman, gave Mr. Cuomo the nod with little mention of his past criticism.
