Fmr Gov. Andrew Cuomo: Sliwa Price Me the Election

[ad_1] Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo blamed his failed bid to change into New York Metropolis's mayor on Republican Curtis Sliwa, arguing that Sliwa pulled sufficient votes to swing the election in favor of mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

Talking on 77 WABC on Monday with former Gov. David Paterson, Cuomo labeled Sliwa a "complete fraud" and insisted he "would've gained" had the election been a two-man race between himself and the democratic socialist Mamdani.

Mamdani, a 34-year-old Muslim born in Uganda, defeated the establishment-backed Cuomo by almost 9 share factors, but Cuomo argued the inclusion of Sliwa, who captured 7% of the vote, helped tip the scales.

Reflecting on Mamdani's shocking victory, Paterson admitted he had "by no means heard" Mamdani's identify till February and questioned how Mamdani was "in a position to do what he did."

In accordance with CNN, Mamdani obtained 50.4% of the vote, whereas Cuomo earned 41.6%. Sliwa completed a distant third with 7.1%. Cuomo known as Sliwa's vote complete "a humiliation" regardless of all his "bluster."

"I all the time believed he [Sliwa] would drop out as a result of there was no method for him to win," Cuomo mentioned. "All he may do is be a spoiler and be answerable for Zohran's victory. I could not consider that as a Republican, he would, may, reside with himself, and that Republicans may reside with him as the one that elected Zohran, which is precisely what occurred."

Mamdani has precipitated concern for institution Democrats who concern the younger socialist could change into the face of a celebration in search of to reconnect with centrist voters.

"Once more, speaking about election protection, no one ever talked about that Sliwa has been a complete fraud for many years," Cuomo mentioned. "I feel Sid Rosenberg [WABC radio host] was nonetheless in Florida when it turned out that the Guardian Angels and Sliwa made up an entire raft of rescue tales that turned out to not be true, that Sliwa mentioned he was kidnapped by the New York Police Division and held, after which admitted that wasn't true."

Cuomo famous that Sliwa's small vote share was simply sufficient to topple his personal probabilities and gasoline Mamdani's upset victory.

"If he had dropped out, I might have gained, I am satisfied," Cuomo added. "As a result of I might have gotten that 7%. I might've been a couple of level from Zohran, however it could have modified the entire dynamic."