Schumer Declines to Endorse in NYC Mayor’s Race as AOC Backs Mamdani, Ex-Mayor Bloomberg Supports Cuomo

A total of nine Democrats are competing in the June 24 primary.

(L–R) Democratic New York City mayoral candidates Adrienne Adams, Brad Lander, Jessica Ramos, Zellnor Myrie, Andrew Cuomo, Whitney Tilson, Zohran Mamdani, Michael Blake, and Scott Stringer participate in a primary debate in New York City on June 4, 2025. Yuki Iwamura-Pool/Getty Images

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he will not endorse a candidate in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, declining to take sides in the wide-open race to unseat current Mayor Eric Adams. Adams is running as an independent candidate after dropping out of the Democratic primary and leaving the party in April.

“I’m not going to make an endorsement,” Schumer said on June 10 during a Capitol Hill press conference, offering no further comment on the field.

His decision stands in contrast to two of the party’s most prominent voices in New York, who are backing opposing candidates.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has endorsed Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist and critic of both Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. In a series of posts on social media platform X, the congresswoman warned voters not to support Cuomo, writing in all caps: “Andrew Cuomo will raise your rent. Do not put him on your ballot.”

She urged supporters to rank Mamdani first, followed by Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Comptroller Brad Lander, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, and state Sen. Zellnor Myrie.

“Mamdani, Lander, and Stringer are all good eggs. They put regular people first,” she wrote in all caps.

On June 8, she marched with Mamdani at the Puerto Rican Day Parade and reminded voters that early voting begins on June 14. Primary day is June 24.

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, however, announced his support for Cuomo on June 10, calling him the best choice to manage the city through its current challenges. Bloomberg ran for president as a Democrat in the 2020 primaries, but was a Republican during his first two terms as mayor before switching to be an independent in 2007 and then re-registering as a Democrat in 2018.

“There is one candidate whose management experience and government know-how stand above the others: @andrewcuomo,” Bloomberg wrote.

Bloomberg praised Cuomo’s past infrastructure achievements and described him as a “pragmatist” focused on results over ideology. He cited projects such as the Second Avenue Subway, LaGuardia Airport redevelopment, and Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station as proof that Cuomo can “get big things done.”

He also noted that, despite a historically tense relationship with Cuomo during their overlapping tenures, he respects Cuomo’s leadership strengths.

Cuomo has centered his campaign on the message that New York City is in crisis and needs a leader with executive experience in state and federal government to restore the city’s quality of life.

A total of nine Democrats are competing in the June 24 primary after Adams launched his independent bid, citing dropped federal corruption charges brought during the Biden administration that he called politically motivated.

During the June 4 debate, candidates clashed over crime, housing, and immigration. Cuomo defended his record and denied past misconduct allegations. Mamdani criticized Cuomo and Adams, saying the city needs a break from centrist leadership and their cooperation with the Trump administration. Other candidates on the stage included Lander, Stringer, Myrie, and Adrienne Adams.

The general election is scheduled for Nov. 4, with Adams running as an independent and Republican Curtis Sliwa as his party’s sole candidate. Given New York City’s strong Democratic lean, the Democratic nominee is widely expected to win, though a split vote between Adams and Sliwa could shape the race dynamics with ranked-choice voting in play.

Joseph Lord contributed to this report.