Topline
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday he was open to running to become governor of New York again–and forming his own political party–after he resigned in August following nearly a dozen sexual harassment allegations.
Then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks at a news conference on May 10, 2021, in New York City. … [+]
Key Facts
Asked about the prospects of running for his old seat, Cuomo said, “I’m open to all options,” and when asked whether he could create his own party, he said, “I’ve done it before. My father’s done it before.”
Cuomo’s remarks came during a visit to a Bronx church to deliver his second public address since his resignation.
The three-term Democratic took a swipe at the Democratic Party, saying the party is being influenced by “extremists dictating radical positions.”
He said, “One manifestation of extremism is the so-called cancel culture.”
Cuomo has recently spent around $3 million of the $18 million in his political campaign’s coffers on television and digital ads to revamp his public image, Bloomberg reported.
Key Background
Cuomo told Bloomberg last month that he didn’t resign because he “did something wrong” but to avoid becoming a “distraction” amid a federal investigation into sexual harassment accusations against him. His aides have conducted polling on a potential race between him and Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), CNBC reported. A poll from the Hill and Emerson College released last week showed respondents favored Hochul over Cuomo by four percentage points. The poll also found that 63% believed Cuomo should not run for public office.
Tangent
An Albany City Court judge in January dismissed a criminal charge against Cuomo over the sexual harassment allegations. District attorneys in other New York counties chose not to prosecute him.
Further Reading
Andrew Cuomo Says He’s Open to Running for N.Y. Governor Again (Bloomberg)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisakim/2022/03/17/andrew-cuomo-says-hes-open-to-run-to-reclaim-ny-governorship/