Former President Bill Clinton has endorsed former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the race for New York City mayor. The endorsement comes on the final day of early voting, with the Democratic primary set for Tuesday.
According to a report by The New York Times, Clinton voiced his support in a recorded robocall, citing Cuomo’s experience as a former member of his administration. “He knows how to get things done,” Clinton told voters in the recording, referencing Cuomo’s work as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
“He’s a fighter who knows how to make government work, and at a time when our basic rights are under assault, I know he’ll stand up and protect the people of this city,” Clinton added.
The endorsement marks a notable departure from Clinton’s typical political activity, as he rarely weighs in on New York City primary contests. A resident of Westchester County, located north of New York, Clinton’s backing of Cuomo is seen as a clear sign of establishment support in the increasingly competitive race. Cuomo’s largest challenger remains Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist currently polling in second place.
Cuomo responded to the endorsement in a statement, saying he is “honored to have the support of President Bill Clinton, a personal mentor, friend and hero.”
“His administration was one of the most accomplished in modern political history — and that’s what government is supposed to be all about,” Cuomo said. He went on to cite how the two worked together and “built housing, battled homelessness and fought for justice for communities too often left out and left behind.”
Cuomo has consistently led in polls throughout the campaign, but the race has tightened in the final days. Mamdani has steadily gained ground and is seen as Cuomo’s only rival in the primary. Still, the latest Marist Poll shows Cuomo maintaining a double-digit lead.
