Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo stands with rival state Sen. Jessica Ramos (heart, proper) after she endorsed him within the race on the District Council of Carpenters’ headquarters. Friday, June 6, 2025.
Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
Queens State Sen. and mayoral candidate Jessica Ramos made the surprising transfer on Friday of endorsing frontrunner Andrew Cuomo — whom she was a harsh critic of up till very not too long ago — within the June 24 Democratic main.
Ramos, a progressive lawmaker representing elements of western Queens, first introduced the transfer to the New York Occasions, after which stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Cuomo throughout a press convention on the District Council of Carpenters’ decrease Manhattan places of work on June 6. Whereas Ramos stated she’s going to reamin within the race, wherein she has failed to achieve the cash or endorsements to run a aggressive marketing campaign, her help of Cuomo was successfully an acknowledgement that he has a robust probability of profitable.
Through the occasion, Ramos stated that the race has come down to 2 candidates, Cuomo and Democratic socialist Queens Meeting Member Zohran Mamdani — who’s polling in second place. She stated that out of the 2, Cuomo is the one contender with the governing and managerial expertise to tackle President Trump, whereas Mamdani’s power as a progressive communicator doesn’t meet the second.
“We need serious governing, we need delivery over dogma, knowing how to govern matters, and that’s why I’m endorsing Andrew Cuomo for mayor,” Ramos stated, which was filled with members of unions supporting Cuomo’s marketing campaign. “This wasn’t an easy decision for all of the reasons you already know, but it’s a responsible decision. I looked at the field, I see people I respect. I see energy and ideas. But we need much more than performative politics.”
Queens state Sen. and mayoral candidate Jessica Ramos endorses her competitor, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Firday, June 6, 2025.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
Cuomo, for his half, described Ramos as an “true progressive” who has “always stood true to her principles.” However throughout a question-and-answer session with reporters following the occasion, Cuomo made clear that the endorsement is just going a method.
“She is endorsing me. I’m not endorsing her,” Cuomo stated.
Neither Ramos nor Cuomo would say if he has promised her a job in his administration if he wins the first and the November normal election.
“We haven’t talked about it, but I am a fan of the senator’s,” Cuomo stated.
The endorsement is a shocking about-face, provided that Ramos, lower than three months in the past, charged that “Andrew Cuomo can’t fight Donald Trump because he’s just like him.” She additionally blasted Cuomo for accepting contributions from donors who’ve given to Trump, accused him of disowning elements of his file as governor, and alleged he’s operating for mayor merely to redeem himself politically.
Ramos additionally repeated the claims throughout an April the New York Submit Editorial Board interview.
Former Gov. and mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo speaks after getting endorsed by rival and state Sen. Jessica Ramos. Friday, June 6, 2025.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
Nevertheless, when requested about these feedback on Friday, Ramos responded “he’s going to be able to put together a very serious cabinet full of talented New Yorkers who know how to get work done.”
She was additionally considered one of many lawmakers who known as on Cuomo to resign in 2021 following him being hit with practically a dozen accusations of sexual misconduct that he denies. Subsequently, her backing may assist sway some ladies voters reluctant to help him over the scandal that introduced down his administration.
The senator’s choice to again Cuomo comes after she failed to achieve any meangingful help among the many metropolis’s labor unions and progressive teams. Many of the huge unions backed Cuomo and the New York Working Households Occasion didn’t initially embrace Ramos within the slate of candidates it unveiled in April and solely added her to its ranked record in fifth place final week.
In a Friday assertion, the WFP stated “We are sad and disappointed that State Sen. Jessica Ramos has decided to endorse the candidate favored by Trump’s billionaire donors. But we won’t be distracted by this desperate move.” Nevertheless, a spokesperson declined to say whether or not the social gathering would rescind its fifth place rating for Ramos.
Former Gov. and mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo sits with rival state Sen. Jessica Ramos as she endorses his candidacy. Friday, June 6, 2025.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
The alliance additionally exhibits why Ramos seemed to be shedding of Cuomo within the first debate of the race on Wednesday night time. Through the two-hour occasion, Ramos educated her assaults on Mamdani and different progressive as an alternative of Cuomo.
In his personal Friday morning press convention, stated he’s additionally “dissappointed” in Ramos endorsing Cuomo.
“To see him continue to be legitimized is something that will always trouble me, especially given the fact that we have run this campaign, many of us as candidates, being crystal clear that while each of us thinks we will make the best next mayor of New York, we all share the agreement that it should not be Andrew Cuomo,” Mamdani advised reporters.
