Andrew Cuomo | |
|---|---|
 Cuomo in 2021 | |
| 56thGovernor of New York | |
| In office January 1, 2011 – August 23, 2021 | |
| Lieutenant | |
| Preceded by | David Paterson |
| Succeeded by | Kathy Hochul |
| 64thAttorney General of New York | |
| In office January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2010 | |
| Governor | Eliot Spitzer David Paterson |
| Preceded by | Eliot Spitzer |
| Succeeded by | Eric Schneiderman |
| 11thUnited States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | |
| In office January 29, 1997 – January 20, 2001 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Deputy | Saul N. Ramirez Jr. |
| Preceded by | Henry Cisneros |
| Succeeded by | Mel Martínez |
| Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Community Planning and Development | |
| In office May 28, 1993 – January 29, 1997 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Skirma Kondratas [lt] |
| Succeeded by | Saul N. Ramirez Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1957-12-06)December 6, 1957 (age 67) New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Domestic partner | Sandra Lee (2005–2019) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents | |
| Relatives | Cuomo family |
| Education | |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Campaign website |
Andrew Mark Cuomo (/ˈkwoʊmoʊ/KWOH-moh; born December 6, 1957) is an American lawyer and politician from the state of New York. A member of theDemocratic Party and son of former governorMario Cuomo, Cuomo served as the 56thgovernor of New York from 2011 untilhis resignation in 2021 following numerous sexual misconduct allegations.
Born inQueens, New York City, Cuomo is a graduate ofFordham University andAlbany Law School. He began his career as thecampaign manager for his father in the1982 New York gubernatorial election. Later, Cuomo entered the private practice of law and chaired the New York City Homeless Commission from 1990 to 1993. Cuomo then served in theUnited States Department of Housing and Urban Development as assistant secretary from 1993 to 1997 and assecretary from 1997 to 2001 under PresidentBill Clinton. Cuomo was electedNew York attorney general in2006 after a failed bid to win the Democratic primary in the2002 New York gubernatorial election.
Cuomo won the2010 New York gubernatorial election with over 60 percent of the vote. He was re-electedin 2014 and2018. During his governorship, Cuomo signed legislation to legalizesame-sex marriage and therecreational use of cannabis. His administration oversaw the construction of theSecond Avenue Subway, theMoynihan Train Hall, and the reconstruction of theTappan Zee Bridge andLaGuardia Airport.[1][2] He also decommissioned theIndian Point nuclear plant, which led to an uptick in greenhouse gas emissions.[3] Inresponse to theSandy Hook Elementary School shooting and the2012 Webster shooting, Cuomo signed theNY SAFE Act of 2013, the strictestgun control law in the United States. He also deliveredMedicaid expansion under theAffordable Care Act; a 2011 tax law that raised taxes for the wealthy and lowered taxes for the middle class; a 12-week paid family leave law; and a gradualincrease of the state's minimum wage to $15 per hour.[4]
Cuomo was initially lauded locally and nationally for his administration's response to theCOVID-19 pandemic in New York, but he facedcriticism and a federal investigation for ordering nursing homes to admit patients from hospitals without testing them for COVID-19. The order was blamed for a large number of nursing home deaths, and the administration's subsequent actions were scrutinized in a number of reports and investigations. A January 2021 report by state attorney generalLetitia James found that the Cuomo administration had undercounted COVID-19-related deaths at nursing homes by as much as 50%.[5][6] As of May 2025[update], theU.S. Department of Justice has an open investigation into Cuomo's testimony on his involvement with a questionable report used to combat criticism of his handling of the pandemic.[7][8]
Beginning in late 2020, Cuomo facednumerous allegations of sexual misconduct.[9][10] A report from independent investigators commissioned by James found in August 2021 that Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women from 2013 through 2020 and retaliated against victims who made complaints about his conduct.[11][12] Following the release of James's report, there were widespread calls for Cuomo's resignation, including from PresidentJoe Biden. On August 23, 2021, in the midst of animpeachment investigation against him,[13] Cuomo resigned from office.[14][15] After his resignation, criminal investigations from the district attorney offices forNew York County,Nassau County,Westchester County, andOswego County were closed without charges being filed.[16][17] A criminal charge inAlbany County was dropped in 2022.[18]
In 2025, Cuomo mounted a political comeback bid and ran formayor of New York City inthat year's election. Despite leading in mostDemocratic primary polls, he lost toZohran Mamdani in what was considered a majorupset. He continued his run as an independent, then lost again to Mamdani in the general election.[19][20][21]
Andrew Mark Cuomo was born on December 6, 1957,[22] in the New York City borough ofQueens to lawyer and later governor of New YorkMario Cuomo andMatilda (née Raffa).[23] He grew up in the neighborhood ofHolliswood.[24]
Cuomo's parents were both ofItalian descent, tracing their ancestry back toSouthern Italy. His paternal grandparents were fromNocera Inferiore andTramonti in theSalerno province ofCampania, while his maternal grandparents were from theMessina province ofSicily.[23][25] He has four siblings;[26] his younger brother,Chris Cuomo, is a currentNewsNation anchor and a formerCNN journalist, and his elder sister is noted radiologistMargaret Cuomo.[27]
Cuomo graduated fromArchbishop Molloy High School, aprivate,college prepCatholic school inBriarwood, in 1975.[28] He earned aBachelor of Arts degree fromFordham University in 1979 and aJuris Doctor degree fromAlbany Law School in 1982.[28] He lived inSunnyside, Queens for five years after law school graduation.[29]
During his father's successful1982 campaign for governor, Cuomo served ascampaign manager. He then joined the governor's staff as a policy advisor and sometime Albany roommate,[30] earning $1 a year.[31] As a member of his father's administration, Cuomo was known as the "enforcer" where his father was known as the "nice guy" in agood cop/bad cop dynamic to further advance his father's legislative agenda.[32]
From 1984 to 1985, Cuomo was aManhattan assistant district attorney and briefly worked at the law firm of Blutrich, Falcone & Miller. He founded Housing Enterprise for the Less Privileged (HELP) in 1986 and left to run HELP full time in 1988.[31] From 1990 to 1993, during the administration ofNew York City mayorDavid Dinkins, Cuomo was chair of the New York City Homeless Commission, which was responsible for developing policies to address homelessness in the city and providing more housing options.[33]
Cuomo was appointed Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development in theDepartment of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 1993, a member of PresidentBill Clinton's administration.[34] After the departure of SecretaryHenry Cisneros at the end of Clinton's first term under the cloud of an FBI investigation,[35] Cuomo was unanimously confirmed by theUnited States Senate to succeed him asSecretary of HUD. Cuomo served as Secretary from January 1997 until the Clinton administration ended in 2001.[34]
In 2000, Cuomo led HUD efforts to negotiate an agreement with handgun manufacturerSmith & Wesson. This agreement required Smith & Wesson to change the design, distribution, and marketing of guns to make them safer and to help keep them out of the hands of children and criminals.[34] Budgets enacted during Cuomo's term contained initiatives to increase the supply of affordable housing and home ownership and to create jobs and economic development. These included new rental assistance subsidies, reforms to integrate public housing, higher limits on mortgages insured by theFederal Housing Administration, a crackdown on housing discrimination, expanded programs to help homeless people get housing and jobs, and creation of newempowerment zones.
During Cuomo's tenure as HUD Secretary, he called for an increase in home ownership.[36] He also pushed government-sponsored lendersFannie Mae andFreddie Mac to buy more home loans issued to poor homeowners in an attempt to end discrimination against minorities.[37] Some believe that this helped lead to the 2007–2010subprime mortgage crisis.[36][38] Edward J. Pinto, former chief credit officer at Fannie Mae, said: "They should have known the risks were large."[39] Pinto said, "Cuomo was pushing mortgage bankers to make loans and basically saying you have to offer a loan to everybody."[39] But others disagree with the assessment that Cuomo caused the crisis.Dean Baker, co-director of theCenter for Economic and Policy Research, said Cuomo "was a contributor in terms of him being a cheerleader, but I don't think we can pin too much blame on him".[36]
According to author and criticJames Bovard, Cuomo was obsessed with changing HUD's image, as Cuomo declared, "The PR is the important thing I do... Eighty percent of the battle is communications." He championed a new program called Community Builders, created without appropriation by Congress, for 800 new HUD employees with computers to be paid as much as $100,000. In a June 16, 1999, speech, Cuomo declared that one purpose of the program was to fight against HUD's abolition. In August 1999, Community Builders distributed a letter to community groups to fight against proposed tax cuts. One HUD official declared that Community Builders was seen as "Democraticward heelers who act as a pipeline between Democratic city officials, party leaders, and the administration and theDemocratic National Committee."
In 1998, Clinton-appointed HUD inspector general Susan Gaffney testified to a Senate committee that she was the victim of"'escalating' attacks on her office by Cuomo and 'his key aides,' including cooked-up charges of racism, insubordination, malfeasance, and general dirty-dealing". In 1999, Gaffney's office concluded that "most (15 out of 19) Community Builders' goals were activities rather than actual accomplishments" and that Cuomo's initiatives "had a crippling effect on many of HUD's ongoing operations".[40] Gaffney retired in May 2001, shortly after the department reached a $490,000 settlement with a black employee who had accused her of racial discrimination in passing him over for a promotion.[41]
Prior to Cuomo's tenure, HUD was routinely included on the General Accounting Office's biannual watch list of government programs whose poor management made them prone to fraud.[42] During his time in office, two of HUD's four main departments were removed from the GAO list.[42] In addition, the department cut 15 percent of its staff as part of a Cuomo initiative to streamline its operations.[42]
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Cuomo worked at theFried Frank law firm from 2001 to 2004 and later the Island Capital real estate firm.[43]
Cuomo first ran for the Democratic nomination for New York governor in 2002. He was initially the favorite for the nomination and led in fundraising and polls, but his campaign took serious damage after agaffe. Speaking about the aftermath of theSeptember 11 attacks, Cuomo said, "Pataki stood behind the leader. He held the leader's coat. He was a great assistant to the leader. But he was not a leader. Cream rises to the top, andRudy Giuliani rose to the top." His remarks were widely derided; even his father, former governorMario Cuomo, later admitted it was a blunder.[44]
On the eve of the state convention, Cuomo withdrew after concluding that he had little chance of defeating the favored party candidate,State ComptrollerCarl McCall.[45] McCall went on to lose the general election to incumbentGeorge Pataki.
Cuomo declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination forNew York state attorney general in 2006 and on May 30 won the Democratic Party's endorsement, receiving 65% of the vote. Former New York City public advocateMark Green and two-time candidate for Lieutenant GovernorCharlie King also earned places on the Democraticballot.[46] King dropped out of the race before the primary and endorsed Cuomo.[47]
Cuomo won the primary by a majority, defeating his nearest opponent by over 20%. Clinching the Democratic party nomination was considered a significant rebound following his unsuccessful 2002 gubernatorial campaign, and at the nominating convention June O'Neill, the Democratic chairwoman ofSt. Lawrence County, called him "New York's own Comeback Kid".[46] In thegeneral election on November 7, 2006, he defeated theRepublican nominee, formerWestchesterdistrict attorneyJeanine Pirro, winning 58% of the vote.
On July 23, 2007, Cuomo's office admonished theSpitzer administration for ordering theNew York State Police to keep special records of then Senate majority leaderJoseph Bruno's whereabouts when he traveled with police escorts in New York City.[48] The goal of the Spitzer administration was to cause political damage to Bruno.[49] Spitzer responded by accepting responsibility and apologizing to Bruno.[48][50]
In 2007, Cuomo was active in a high-profile investigation into lending practices and anti-competitive relationships between student lenders and universities. Specifically, many universities steered student borrowers to a "preferred lender", which resulted in the borrowers' incurring higher interest rates. This led to changes in lending policy at many major American universities. Many universities also rebated millions of dollars in fees to affected borrowers.[51][52]
On June 10, 2008, Cuomo announced that three major Internet service providers (Verizon Communications,Time Warner Cable, andSprint) would "shut down major sources of onlinechild pornography" by no longer hosting manyUsenet groups. Time Warner Cable ceased offering Usenet altogether, Sprint ended access to the 18,408 newsgroups in thealt.* hierarchy, and Verizon limited its Usenet offerings to the approximately 3,000Big 8 newsgroups. The move came after Cuomo's office located 88 different newsgroups to which child pornography had been posted.[53][54][55]
Cuomo investigated a corruption scandal, a "fraudulent scheme to extract kickbacks", which involved New York investigators, theSecurities and Exchange Commission, andattorneys general in dozens of states.[56]
AfterHillary Clinton became President Obama's choice forU.S. secretary of state in December 2008, then-New York governorDavid Paterson was charged with appointing a temporary replacement until aspecial election. Cuomo was seen as a leading contender for this appointment.[57][58][failed verification]Caroline Kennedy (who is a first cousin of Cuomo's ex-wife) was another leading contender, but withdrew for personal reasons two days before Paterson was set to announce his choice, leaving Cuomo and U.S. representativeKirsten Gillibrand as the most likely appointees.[58][59] On January 23, Paterson announced he would appoint Gillibrand to the U.S. Senate.[60]
On September 18, 2009, advisors to President Barack Obama informed GovernorDavid Paterson that the president believed he should withdraw his 2010 gubernatorial candidacy, stepping aside for "popular Attorney General Andrew Cuomo".[61] On January 23, 2010, the New YorkDaily News reported that Cuomo would announce plans for a gubernatorial campaign at the end of March.[62] On May 22, 2010, Cuomo announced his run for governor in a video posted to his campaign website. Cuomo announced his choice for lieutenant governor on May 26, 2010:Robert Duffy, Mayor ofRochester.[63]
In the November 2, 2010, general election, Cuomo faced RepublicanCarl Paladino, aBuffalo-based businessman who had been heavily supported by theTea Party movement. Cuomo won the election for governor by a landslide, winning 62.6% of the vote. Paladino performed strongly in his native Buffalo area, while Cuomo performed well in the eastern part of the state as well as downstate.[64]
In addition to the parties fielding candidates, New York'selectoral fusion laws allow parties to cross-endorse candidates. TheIndependence Party andWorking Families Party cross-endorsed Andrew Cuomo, while theConservative Party andTaxpayers Party cross-endorsed Carl Paladino.
Cuomo sought reelection in 2014, with former U.S. representative Kathy Hochul as his new running mate. On March 5, 2014,Westchester County executiveRob Astorino announced that he would run on the Republican ticket against Cuomo for governor.[65] Law professorsZephyr Teachout andTim Wu challenged the Cuomo-Hochul ticket in the Democratic primary election[66][67] – capturing 34% of the vote on the gubernatorial line (Wu drew 40.1% as lieutenant governor[68]).[69] On November 4, 2014, Cuomo was reelected for a second term with 54% of the vote,[70][71] while Astorino received 40.6% of the vote.[72]
Despite low voter turnout, Cuomo won the general election by a comfortable margin; however, his margin of victory was smaller than it had been in his 2010 victory. Astorino won most of upstate New York but was overwhelmed in New York City. Cuomo was sworn in for his second term as governor.
Cuomo was challenged in the Democratic primary by actress and activistCynthia Nixon. She criticized him for having failed to fix theNew York City Subway following his declaration of the2017 New York City transit crisis, as well as for not protecting undocumented immigrants, not legalizing recreational marijuana,[73] and not creating a single-payer healthcare system.[74] When debating Nixon, Cuomo countered her argument on the subways by pointing out that the system is owned by New York City, though past administrations agree it is the governor's role.[75][76][77] An analysis conducted by New York City comptroller Scott Stringer revealed that New York City pays for 70 percent of subway repair costs.[77]
Cuomo defeated Nixon by a margin of 65.5% to 34.5%.
On November 6, 2018, the Cuomo-Hochul ticket defeated the Molinaro-Killian ticket by a margin of 59.6% to 36.2%.[78]
On March 19, 2021,The New York Times, in an episode of their podcastThe Daily, leaked audio of Cuomo threatening Bill Lipton, head of theWorking Families Party, which had endorsed primary opponent Nixon, that "[i]f you ever say, 'Well he's better than a Republican' again, then I'm gonna say, 'You're better than a child rapist.'"[79][80]
In May 2019, Cuomo announced he would run for a fourth term.[81] In August 2021, after a report released by theattorney general of New York,Letitia James, detailed accusations of sexual harassment by Cuomo and his attempts to silence victims, theNew York State Legislature's leaders indicated that they would seek to remove Cuomo from office. While denouncing the report's findings as political and maintaining hisinnocence, he announced his resignation as Governor in the face of almost certain removal from office, effective August 24, 2021.[82][83][84] Although there was no formal withdrawal, individuals close to Cuomo indicated he would likely not seek his party's nomination following his resignation.[85]
Cuomo took the gubernatorialoath of office at 12:01 AM on January 1, 2011, succeedingDavid Paterson.[86][87] During his first year as governor, Cuomo worked to pass an on-time budget[88] that cut spending without raising taxes,[89][90] made a new deal with a large state-employee union,[91] signed ethics reform legislation,[92] passed a property tax cap,[93] worked to enact a same-sex marriage bill with bipartisan support,[94][95] and restructured New York's tax code.[96][97]
In 2014,Politico reported that Cuomo had been actively involved in the formation of theIndependent Democratic Conference (IDC) three years earlier, which gave control of the state senate to Republicans.[98] He has been accused of failing to bridge the rift between the IDC and the Democratic caucus in the Senate.[99]
There was media speculation about a possible presidential run, either in 2016 or 2020.[100][101] Several reports indicated that Cuomo supported theIndependent Democratic Conference until its dissolution and defeat in 2018 in part to appear more moderate for an eventual presidential bid.[102][103][104][105] Cuomo denied these allegations, and in 2018 was responsible for reuniting the IDC with the mainstream Democratic conference.[106][107]
For his 2018 re-election bid, Cuomo accepted being on top of the ballot line for the Independence Party, a list that featured numerous Republicans, including ardent Trump supporters.[108]
In an August 15, 2018, anti-sex trafficking bill-signing event, Cuomo said: "We're not gonna make America great again. It was never that great. We have not reached greatness. We will reach greatness when every American is fully engaged."[109] The assembled audience of Cuomo's supporters booed.[110]
In a February 2019opinion poll, Cuomo's approval rating dropped to 43%, the lowest of his tenure as governor, and a full 50% said they disapproved.[111] The poll showed an eight-percent drop from January 2019; it was taken after Cuomo signed several pieces of progressive legislation, including anexpansion of abortion rights and access and stricter gun laws, suggesting that the legislation may have upset certain voters and contributed to the drop; however, the majority of voters agreed with his position on both issues.[112] By early 2020, Cuomo's favorability rating was up to 77%, a record high.[113]
On his first day in office, Cuomo renewed an executive order signed byEliot Spitzer which prohibited Governors of New York from receiving donations from gubernatorial appointees.[114] A February 2018 investigation byThe New York Times, however, revealed that the Cuomo administration had quietly reinterpreted the order, and that Cuomo had collected $890,000 from 24 of his appointees, as well as $1.3 million from the spouses, children and businesses of appointees.[114] Some donations were made to Cuomo just days after the donor was appointed.[114]
In March 2018,The New York Times reported that Cuomo had rewritten the disclaimer language on his campaign website for the executive order barring donations from appointees.[115] The website added two caveats whereby some gubernatorial appointees are allowed to donate to the governor, whichThe Times said could potentially lead to more donations from appointees to the governor.[115] The Cuomo campaign returned a $2,500 donation from one appointee who was in violation of the new disclaimer, but retained approximately $890,000 raised from other appointees.[115]
From the time ofUtah governorGary Herbert's retirement on January 4, 2021, until Cuomo's resignation on August 23, 2021, Cuomo was the longest-serving sitting governor in the United States, with 3,887 days in office.
Cuomo supported providing tax and other incentives to attract business to locate in New York State.[116][117] He even joked in 2018 that he would be willing to change his name to "Amazon Cuomo" ifAmazon located their "Amazon HQ2" in the state.[118] His strong support for New York City's bid to become the home of Amazon's HQ2 faced criticism based on arguments that the costs to the state outweighed the possible benefits.[119] Amazon decided on two "major corporate outposts", in New York City andArlington, Virginia, instead of a single second headquarters,[120] before bowing out of the former under local pressure.[citation needed]
On March 1, 2020, Cuomo issued a statement regardingnovel coronavirus in New York wherein he mentioned the first positive case of novel coronavirus in New York State.[121] On March 2, 2020, Cuomo said thatcommunity transmission of the new coronavirus is "inevitable".[122] He also mentioned New York City's plans to aggressively ramp up diagnostic testing for the new virus and said that he would like to see New York City conducting "1,000 tests per day". He announced the "world-renowned"Wadsworth Center was partnering with hospitals to expand surge testing capacity to "1,000 tests per day statewide" for the novel coronavirus. On March 3, 2020, Cuomo signed a $40 million emergency management authorization for coronavirus response and claimed that "New York's overall risk remained low".[123] He also announced the institution of a new cleaning protocol at schools and in the public transportation system "to help stop any potential spread of the virus". On March 4, 2020, Cuomo confirmed nine new cases in the state and said that it was "literally like trying to stop air" and that it was inevitable that it would continue to spread.[124]
On March 6, 2020, Cuomo criticized the federal government's response to the COVID-19 outbreak, calling it "absurd and nonsensical".[125]
Early in the coronavirus response efforts, Cuomo received widespread praise fromepidemiologists for his handling of the evolvingCOVID-19 pandemic in New York State, including a statewidelockdown and a shutdown of nonessential businesses in an effort to helpflatten the curve of the virus. At the same time, however, Cuomo also received criticism for failing to grasp the gravity of thepandemic before its risks were fully visible to the American public.[126][127]
On March 28, 2020, Cuomo threatenedRhode Island with a lawsuit over a state quarantine policy enforcingquarantine on arriving New Yorkers.[128][129]
In the spring of 2020, social media posters and television hosts such asStephen Colbert,Trevor Noah, andEllen DeGeneres came up with the term "Cuomosexuals" to express admiration and love for the governor and his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, related to theirleadership roles during the COVID-19 pandemic.[130]
In June 2021, Cuomo lifted COVID-19 restrictions, following the news that 70% of adults had one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.[131]
Between July and August 2020, it was alleged that Cuomo utilized state resources and property, including assigning work by Executive Chamber government staffers to compile materials and perform frequent work on the drafting of his book on a non-voluntary basis.[132] In October 2020, Cuomo published his book,American Crisis, proclaiming victory against the pandemic due to his leadership. He wrote that New York "confronted and defeated" the virus, although the state had the highest per capita hospitalization rate in the country by February 2021.[133] Cuomo was paid more than $5 million to write the book.[134]
In November 2020, Cuomo received theInternational Emmy Founders Award from theInternational Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his coronavirus briefings.[135][136] On August 24, 2021, the morning after his departure, the academy rescinded the Emmy award due to the New York Attorney General's report on sexual harassment allegations against him.[137]
On December 14, 2021, Cuomo was ordered by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics to pay New York state $5.1 million in book profits he made during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission reversed the prior approval after complaints that Cuomo used state resources, including personnel used to edit, write, prepare, and gather data to write "American Crisis". Cuomo was ordered to return proceeds from the book by January 13, 2022.[138][139] Cuomo denied these claims and sued the joint commission on public ethics alleging they acted improperly. In August 2022 the state appellate court upheld a lower court decision finding that New York's current ethics watchdog commission was unconstitutional. Cuomo won the lawsuit and was permitted to keep the proceeds from the sale of the book.[140][141]
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in his state, nine state health officials resigned, reportedly in response to Cuomo's policies. In a press conference on January 29, 2021, Cuomo stated that he did not trust the expertise of health officials.[142]
In August 2017, the Cuomo administration awarded more than $7 million, financed with money from large bank settlements, in grants to New York colleges to offer courses to New York prisoners.[143] In January 2018, Cuomo proposed reforms that would "reduce delays during trials, ban asset seizures in cases where there has been no conviction and make it easier for former convicts to get a job after leaving prison".[144] He also called for an end to cash bail for minor crimes.[144]
Under Cuomo's tenure, he granted commutations to fewer prisoners than many previous Republican and Democratic New York governors.[145] Cuomo commuted nine sentences.[145] Cuomo pardoned 140 adults who were convicted of nonviolent felonies as 16- and 17-year-olds, but had served their sentences.[145] He pardoned 18 others who had served their sentences for nonviolent felonies but were exposed to deportation due to their criminal record.[145]
In 2017, Cuomo announced that theIndian Point nuclear plant, which produced one quarter of New York City's power, would be closed. As a result of its closure, the carbon-free power generated by the plant was replaced by power generated by carbon-generatingfossil fuels.[146] As a consequence, New York struggled to meet its climate goals.[147]
In June 2012, the Cuomo administration said it was considering lifting a state ban on the practice ofhydraulic fracturing (also known as "fracking")[148] to stimulate the economy inupstate New York. But critics said that fracking upstate could contaminate the water supply of New York City, New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania.[149][150] Following a long-awaited study started years earlier, New York State health officials cited "significant public health risks" associated with fracking, and on December 17, 2014, the Cuomo administration announced a ban on hydraulic fracturing in New York State.[151]
On January 15, 2013, Cuomo signed into law the first stategun control bill to pass after the December 14, 2012,Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in neighboring Connecticut.[152] TheNY SAFE Act was described as the toughest gun control law in the United States.[153] The act came under criticism, and theNational Rifle Association called it draconian. The New York State Sheriffs' Association issued a statement supporting tougher penalties for illegal use of firearms but criticizing several aspects of the legislation, including a magazine limit of seven rounds and a "too broad" definition of assault weapons.[154]
On July 5, 2013, Cuomo signed an amendment to the NY SAFE Act that exempts retired police officers from some of the act's ownership restrictions.[155]
On April 2, 2018, Cuomo announced the passage of new legislation that prevents those who have been convicted of domestic violence from possessing any kind of firearms as well as losing their gun license.[156]
On February 25, 2019, Cuomo signed the "red flag" gun protection law, allowing a court to temporarily prohibit someone from buying or possessing a gun if they are deemed a threat to themselves or others.[157]
On July 30, 2019, Cuomo signed two laws banning the manufacture and sale of3D printed guns and the other requiring safe storage of firearms when children younger than 16 years of age live in a gun owner's home.[158]
On July 7, 2021, Cuomo declared the first 'disaster emergency' in theUnited States on gun crime forNew York.[159][160]
Cuomo also resisted repeated efforts by the Legislature to decriminalize the so-called "gravity knife," which had resulted in many arrests of individuals (disproportionately African-American or Hispanic) who used these folding knives for work, but not as weapons. Cuomo vetoed the first two attempts by the Legislature to decriminalize folding knives that could be opened with one hand by a "wrist-flick," but, on May 30, 2019, signed into law a repeal of the Penal Code provision that had listed the "gravity knife" as a prohibited weapon.[161] Cuomo's memorandum on signing the repeal bill noted: "As I review this bill for a third time, the legal landscape has changed. In March of this year, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York declared the State's existing 'gravity knife' ban unconstitutional. As argued by many who have advocated for this change in law, the court reasoned that the existing law could result in arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement."[162] This was a reference to the case ofCracco v. Vance, a case decided by JudgePaul A. Crotty some two months earlier.[163]
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AfterHurricane Sandy in October 2012, Cuomo allowed New York voters, via a specific provision aimed at accommodating those displaced, to cast provisional ballots for the 2012 election anywhere in the state.[164] He also appointed acommission to examine the responses of New York utilities to damage caused by the storm.[165]
Controversy ensued when the Cuomo administration used $140 million, including $40 million of federal disaster relief funds, to pay for the broadcast of national TV ads promoting "New New York" slogans outside New York in an attempt to attract new business investment to the state.[166][167] Many were critical of the effort, including former New York governorEliot Spitzer, who called the ads "fluff" and "a waste of taxpayer money".[166]
In solidarity withIsrael, Cuomo announced an executive order against theBoycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Cuomo tweeted: "If you boycott Israel, New York State will boycott you."[168]
In January 2014, Cuomo announced an executive order to allow the limited use of medical marijuana in New York.[169] Later that year, a comprehensive bill tolegalize medical cannabis was passed by the state legislature, containing some restrictions at Cuomo's insistence such as a ban on consumption by smoking.[170][171] On July 5, 2014, the Compassionate Care Act was signed into law by Governor Cuomo.[171][172]
In December 2018, Cuomo announced his support forlegalizing the recreational use of cannabis, after previously stating his opposition and calling it a "gateway drug" as recently as February 2017.[170] On March 31, 2021, recreational use of cannabis was officially legalized with the signing into law of theMarijuana Regulation and Taxation Act by Governor Cuomo.[173]
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In June 2017, after a series of subway disasters, Cuomo declared a "state of emergency" for theNew York City Subway system.[174] According toThe New York Times, a series of New York City mayors and New York governors, including Cuomo, were partly at fault for the worsening quality of the subway system and inflated construction costs.[174] Under the Cuomo administration, theMetropolitan Transportation Authority repeatedly diverted tax revenues earmarked for the subways, paid for services that there was no need for and spent on subway projects that did not boost service or reliability.[174] As a result, the MTA was saddled with debt and could not undertake investments into overhauling outdated and inefficient subway infrastructure.[174] Cuomo also directed the MTA to spend on projects that the heads of the MTA did not consider to be priorities.[174] One reason why the New York City subway system is so expensive is due to exorbitant labor costs; according to several M.T.A. officials who were involved in negotiating labor contracts, Cuomo pressured the MTA to accept labor union contracts that were extremely favorable to workers.[174]The New York Times noted that Cuomo was closely aligned with the union in question and had received $165,000 in campaign contributions from it.[174]
The New York Times reported, "Cuomo had steered clear of the M.T.A. during his first years in office, but in his second term he took an intense interest. He placed aides within the organization and, in an unusual move, made some report directly to him. He badgered transit leaders about the construction of theSecond Avenue subway on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. And over the objections of some board members, he canceled several M.T.A. capital projects to make room for his own priorities. According to high-ranking current and former M.T.A. officials, the moves interfered with the authority's plans to address the rising delays."[174]
On April 18, 2017, Cuomo signed the New York State 2018 fiscal year budget. It included theExcelsior Scholarship, a provision that families making less than $125,000 in 2019 could have free tuition at allSUNY andCUNY universities,[175][176] though some education experts includingSara Goldrick-Rab say it won't help the poorest students and that the requirement that recipients live and work in New York after graduating is counter-productive.[177]
On July 16, 2011, Cuomo finalized a five-year deal with the Public Employees Federation to end pay raises, implementfurlough days, and require additional contributions to health insurance accounts.[178] In an interview withThe New York Times, he stated his top goal in 2012 is the reduction ofpublic employee pensions.[179]
In the winter of 2018, Cuomo responded to a class-action lawsuit brought against theNew York City Housing Authority by attorneyJim Walden on behalf of a group of public housing tenants. The suit was the first of its kind and called upon NYCHA to immediately address decrepit and unhealthy conditions in public housing units across New York City.[180] By early April, Cuomo appointed an independent monitor to oversee NYCHA on an emergency basis.[181]
In a January 17, 2014, interview with Susan Arbetter onWCNY'sThe Capital Pressroom, Cuomo stated:
[New York Republicans] are searching to define their soul, that's what's going on. Is the Republican party in this state a moderate party or is it an extreme conservative party? ... The Republican Party candidates are running against the SAFE Act – it was voted for by moderate Republicans who run the Senate! Their problem is not me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves. Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay? Is that who they are? Because if that's who they are and they're the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York, because that's not who New Yorkers are. If they're moderate Republicans like in the Senate right now, who control the Senate – moderate Republicans have a place in their state. George Pataki was governor of this state as a moderate Republican, but not what you're hearing from them on the far right.[182]
This remark received a major reaction in the conservative media. Radio hostGlenn Beck wrote a letter to the governor regarding the remarks from the interview.[183]Fox News contributor and radio/TV show hostSean Hannity threatened to move out of the state with all of his assets if Cuomo did not apologize for his remarks.[184] CardinalTimothy M. Dolan, thearchbishop of New York, said during a radio broadcast that Cuomo's remarks were "most unfortunate at best. Are there pro-lifers who are extremist? Yes, there are. But I think they are a distinct minority."[185]
TheNew York State Democratic Committee, which is headed by Cuomo, supported his remarks and reiterated them in a May 2014 statement responding to a speech byRob Astorino, who was running against him in the2014 gubernatorial election: "Tea Party Republicans have done enough damage in Washington, today's speech made it abundantly clear that we don't need them here in New York."[186]
In keeping with a campaign promise, Cuomo signed theMarriage Equality Act, introducing homosexual marriage, on June 24, 2011, following an "intense public and private lobbying campaign", and later called for all states to do the same.[187] Cuomo was lauded for his efforts to pass same-sex marriage legislation.[188][189][190] One prominent advocate stated that for gay Americans, Cuomo was "the only national politician with hero status".[189] Following the passage of the Act, Cuomo was criticized for describing the viewpoints of opponents as "anti-American".[191][192] On July 25, 2011, a lawsuit was filed in theNew York Supreme Court seeking an injunction against the Act, alleging corruption and violations of the law in the process of passing the bill.[193] The trial court initially held that the plaintiffs' case could proceed, but the decision was reversed on appeal.[194]
Cuomo ordered a boycott ofIndiana andNorth Carolina to protest theirlegislation on LGBT issues.[168]
In July 2016, theEmpire State Development Corporation, a state agency, released a report indicating that the state's flagship business tax incentive program, called Start-Up NY, had generated 408 jobs since its inception in 2014. Ads promoting the program had cost at least $53 million.[195] The Start-Up NY annual report was delayed three months in 2016, leading some lawmakers, such as Assemblyman Schimminger, to call the delays "curious".[196]
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Cuomo was praised for his 2011 restructuring of the New York State tax code.[197][198][199] He was also criticized for allegedly requesting a unanimous Assembly vote in favor of the proposal and threatening to campaign against Assembly members who voted "no"[200] – a charge he denied.[200] Cuomo also received criticism from voices on the left who felt that the tax reform was insufficient.[201] Hoping that the Federal cap on state and local tax deductions will be repealed, Cuomo signed a tax increase on high income workers and corporations and the wealthy worth over one million dollars in 2021. The increase extends until the year 2027.[202]
In April 2018, Cuomo announced that he would restore the voting rights ofparolees through an executive order.[203] He said that he would consider restoring the voting rights of all parolees (more than 35,000), and would also enfranchise new parolees throughout his term.[203]
In 2013, Cuomo called for the passage of a Women's Equality Act.[204] The Women's Equality Act included 10 component bills affecting issues such as domestic violence, human trafficking, and pregnancy discrimination.[204] The tenth bill of the Women's Equality Act was the Reproductive Health Act,[205] which would have "enshrine[d] in state law existing federal protections for abortion rights", "shift[ed] the state's abortion law from the criminal code to the health care laws", and "[made] it clearer that licensed health care practitioners as well as physicians could perform abortions".[206] During his 2013 State of the State address, Cuomo said, "Enact a Reproductive Health Act because it is her body, it is her choice. Because it's her body, it's her choice. Because it's her body, it's her choice."[204] The New York State Assembly passed the Women's Equality Act on June 20, 2013.[207] The Republican leadership of the New York State Senate expressed support for the nine non-abortion-related planks of the Women's Equality Act, but objected to the Reproductive Health Act and expressed unwillingness to allow a vote on it.[208]
On the final day of the 2013 legislative session, following the Senate Republican Conference's continued refusal to vote on the full Women's Equality Act, Senator Jeff Klein, leader of the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), offered the abortion plank of the Act as a hostile amendment to another bill.[209] The amendment was defeated by a narrow margin of 32–31; all 30 Senate Republicans voted against the abortion amendment, as did Democratic Sens. Ruben Diaz and Simcha Felder.[209] The Senate proceeded to pass the nine non-abortion-related planks of the Women's Equality Act as separate bills, and the 2013 legislative session came to an end without any portion of the WEA becoming law.[210]
"[After] the 2014 election season was over, with Cuomo victorious, the governor and his lieutenant governor Kathy Hochul both declared the abortion plank of the act officially dormant, if not dead."[211] In 2015, the non-abortion-related Women's Equality Act bills passed both houses of the State Legislature.[211] In October 2015, Cuomo signed eight of the 10 Women's Equality Act bills into law; the abortion rights bill was not among them.[212]
On January 22, 2019, Cuomo signed the 2019 version of theReproductive Health Act, which passed days after Democrats took control of the state Senate.[213] Cuomo orderedOne World Trade Center and other landmarks to be lit in pink to celebrate the bill's passage.[214][215] Cuomo's signing and the lighting of the World Trade Center building sparked intense criticism from conservatives.[216] The Catholiccardinal Timothy Dolan criticized Cuomo over the Reproductive Health Act.[217]
In July 2014, it was reported that theMoreland Commission, a committee established by Cuomo to root out corruption in politics,[218] was directed away from investigations that could be politically damaging.[219] Cuomo later disbanded the commission.[219] Federal prosecutors in Manhattan launched an inquiry into Cuomo's dealings with the anti-corruption panel and concluded that "after a thorough investigation", there was "insufficient evidence to prove a federal crime".[220]
In September 2016, Joseph Percoco, a close friend and former top aide to Cuomo, was indicted as part of a bribery investigation into theBuffalo Billion.[221][222][223] He had worked for Cuomo in both Washington and Albany and had managed his 2010 and 2014 gubernatorial campaigns.[224][225][226] Todd Howe, a lobbyist and former Cuomo aide, was also indicted, along with several developers who were major donors to Cuomo and other state politicians.[221][222] Cuomo was not accused of wrongdoing.[222][223]
In March 2018, a federal jury in Manhattan convicted Percoco on felony charges of solicitation of bribes andhonest services fraud for over $315,000 in bribes he took from two people seeking official favors on behalf of an energy company, Competitive Power Ventures Inc.[227][228][229] Following Percoco's conviction, Cuomo released a statement declaring that he would respect the jury's verdict and that "there is no tolerance for any violation of the public trust".[230][231][232] In September 2018, JudgeValerie Caproni sentenced Percoco to 6 years in prison.[233] In May 2023, theSupreme Court unanimously overturned his bribery conviction.[234][235]
In March 2021, allegations came out that Cuomo prioritized COVID-19 tests for his family and other associates during the early stages of the pandemic when tests were limited.[236] Particular scrutiny went to the positive test of his brother Chris in March 2020 amid other conflicts of interest that commentators saw in their relationship.[237][238] These reports were investigated during his impeachment probe but were not included in the final impeachment report.[239][240]
In mid-2021, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) started investigating a publication deal Cuomo made for his book,American Crisis: Leadership lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic. The investigation was launched after allegations that Cuomo had used taxpayer money to write it.[241] The $5.1 million after taxes that the book garnered was also considered controversial, with some alleging that he had used his position to promote it.[242]
On November 16, 2021, the JCOPE revoked its prior authorization for Cuomo to publish his book, and ordered the suspension of any further printing.[243] The reasoning behind the decision was that Cuomo had used state staff, buildings, and resources in writing, editing, and publishing the book.[244] Cuomo and his spokesperson repeatedly claimed that they had done no wrong, stating that the staff had helped with the book on a voluntary basis.[245] Without passing a reapproval for publishing after requests, the JCOPE ordered Cuomo on December 14, to forfeit the entire $5.1 million to the state of New York via the attorney general.[246][247]
Cuomo took the JCOPE to court, and the State Supreme Court ruled that the JCOPE's actions were unconstitutional and that its sanctions against Cuomo violated due process, as it does not have the authority to impose sanctions for violating its operational rules.[248] However, the court stated that the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying (COEAL) is allowed to open a new investigation into JCOPE's accusations against Cuomo. The COEAL is a new ethics commission that was formed after JCOPE was shut down.[249] COEAL would eventually start this investigation.
Cuomo filed an appeal against the investigation by the new commission, claiming that the COEAL was also too independent, and thus challenging its constitutional authority.[250] On September 11, 2023, the New York State Supreme Court ruled in Cuomo's favor.[251] The court claimed that the new commission was also unconstitutional, stating: "Our Constitution, which so carefully allocates power among the three branches, will not permit those powers to be transferred to (an) independent commission amounting to an unsanctioned fourth branch of government".[252] The state immediately announced they were looking into appealing this court decision. Cuomo would once again win his case in the mid-level appeals court that sided with the September 11 ruling.[253]
This ruling was also appealed to the New York State High Court of Appeals, where trial hearings started on January 7, 2025.[254][255] Government advocate Rachel Fauss stated that if the court were to side with previous rulings, it would mean the end of ethics enforcement in the state.[256] On February 18, 2025, the top court declared that the new commission is constitutional, and thus the probe on Cuomo's book continues.[257][258][259]
In March 2020, a directive from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services stated that nursing homes should admit anyone they would normally admit, including people coming from hospitals where COVID-19 was present. Cuomo and theNew York State Department of Health then issued an order on March 25 requiring the admission of patients regardless of COVID test result and prohibited nursing homes from conducting tests on prospective patients.[260][261] According toProPublica, New York became the only state to prevent testing in this way.[262][261][263] By the time the order was undone, on May 10, as many as 4,500 COVID-19 infected patients had been sent to nursing homes in New York state. More than 6,000 New York state nursing home residents died of COVID-19 as of June 2020.[262][264]
Several reports and investigations followed amid criticism of the Cuomo administration for their role in nursing home deaths. The administration's own report, in July 2020, concluded that most of the admissions took place after peak nursing home mortality, suggesting it was nursing home staff that drove infections.[265] State attorney generalLetitia James's January 2021 report found that the administration undercounted COVID-19-related deaths at nursing homes by as much as 50%, such as discounting nursing home patients who died after being taken to a hospital rather than within the nursing home itself.[5][6] TheFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn investigated the situation but decided not to pursue a case.[266][267]
In October 2024, aU.S. House of Representatives select subcommittee found that "overwhelming evidence . . . proves that Mr. Cuomo reviewed, edited, and even drafted portions of a purportedly independent and peer-reviewedNew York State Department of Health report that was used to combat criticism of his Administration’s pandemic-era nursing home policies" and that the resulting report "low-balled nursing home fatalities and blamed nursing home staff for causing excess COVID-19 deaths."[268] The subcommittee also stated that in his testimony to Congress, Cuomo's statements distancing himself from the tampering of the report were "demonstrably false".[268] In May 2025, the Department of Justice opened an investigation into Cuomo's testimony.[7][8]
On December 13, 2020,Lindsey Boylan, a former aide for Cuomo who was a Democratic candidate forManhattan Borough president in 2021, alleged "[Cuomo] sexually harassed me for years. Many saw it, and watched." Boylan further alleged that Cuomo "exists without ethics", "takes advantage of people, including me" and ran a "toxic team environment".[269][270][271] A spokesperson for the Cuomo administration denied the accusation.[269] Boylan further elaborated on her accusations in February 2021, claiming Cuomo goaded her to playstrip poker with him while on a flight in 2017 and forcibly kissed her on the mouth in his Manhattan office.[272] The governor's office said Boylan's claims were false.[273]
On February 27, 2021, Charlotte Bennett, an executive assistant and health policy advisor of Cuomo, also accused him of sexual harassment, saying that he asked her about her sex life on several occasions in late spring 2020 and if she had been insexual relationships with older men. She also suggested that Cuomo was open to relationships with women "above the age of 22".[274][275][276] In a statement on February 27, Cuomo denied making advances to Bennett and acting inappropriately towards her.[277][278]
In a February 28 statement, Cuomo said: "I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some of my comments, given my position, made others feel in ways I never intended." He apologized and acknowledged "some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation." He also said, "At work sometimes I think I am being playful and make jokes that I think are funny. I mean no offense and only attempt to add some levity and banter to what is a very serious business."[279]
The two U.S. senators for New York,Chuck Schumer andKirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats, called for an independent investigation.[280]White House press secretaryJen Psaki said in aCNN interview that PresidentJoe Biden supported an independent investigation into Governor Cuomo's conduct.[273]
On March 1, a third woman came forward alleging Cuomo had sexually harassed her and touched her without consent on her bare lower back while posing for a photograph.[281] Anna Ruch was not on the governor's staff, but encountered him socially at a wedding reception in September 2019. The attorney general of New York state, Letitia James, was reported to be investigating options for an independent investigation.[282] When reporting the allegation,The New York Times also published a photograph from the event which showed Cuomo putting his hands on Ruch's face. She said the incident made her feel "uncomfortable and embarrassed".[282]
A fourth woman, Ana Liss, came forward on March 6 and alleged Cuomo touched her inappropriately on her lower back and kissed her hand.[283] That same day, Karen Hinton, a former consultant of Cuomo when he was leading the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, alleged that in 2000 he had asked personal questions and inappropriately hugged her in his hotel room.[284]
On March 1, 2021, Cuomo's senior counsel and special adviser Beth Garvey instructedNew York attorney generalLetitia James to proceed with an independent investigation of Cuomo.[285] On March 8, James hired attorneys from twolaw firms (firstly Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, and secondly Vladeck, Raskin & Clark) to conduct an independent investigation of Cuomo.[286][11]
On March 9, a sixth woman alleged that Cuomo inappropriately touched her at the governor's mansion.[287] On April 7, the unnamed aide said that after she had been summoned to governor's mansion in November 2020, Cuomo allegedly rose from his desk and began groping her. After the aide told him it would get him in trouble, Cuomo then shut the door and said "I don't care." He then returned and groped one of her breasts over her bra by reaching under her blouse. A month later she claimed that Cuomo told her tocover-up what had occurred.[288][289][290] On August 8, she revealed her identity: Brittany Commisso.[291]
On March 11, 2021, the New York Assembly approved a separate impeachment investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations made against Cuomo.[292][293]
On March 12, Kaitlin (last name unreported), who formerly worked for the governor's office, alleged that Cuomo had made her feel uncomfortable in various situations, with his comments, questions, requests, and invasions of her personal space. She did not allege inappropriate touching or explicit sexual propositions.[10][294] Also on March 12, journalist Jessica Bakeman alleged that Cuomo had sexually harassed her by touching her and making inappropriate comments. She wrote: "I never thought the governor wanted to have sex with me. It wasn't about sex. It was about power. He wanted me to know that I was powerless".[295][296]
On March 18, another journalist, Valerie Bauman, came forward. She said that Cuomo had made her feel uncomfortable, describing him staring at her, entering her personal space, offering her a job, and asking personal questions.[297][298] Bauman also stated that Cuomo "never touched [her] inappropriately or said anything that [she] felt [she] could report to [her] boss".[299] On March 19, Alyssa McGrath, who was still working for Cuomo's office at the time, accused Cuomo of sexually harassing her by ogling her and making inappropriate comments. McGrath did not accuse Cuomo of inappropriate sexual contact.[300] On March 29, Sherry Vill, a New York constituent whose flood-damaged house Cuomo had visited in May 2017, alleged that Cuomo had inappropriately kissed her twice on her cheek during that visit.[301][302]
Attorney General James's five-month investigation concluded with the release of a report on August 3, 2021.[11][303] This report concluded that during Cuomo's time in office, he sexually harassed 11 women: Boylan, Bennett, Ruch, Liss, Brittany Commisso, Kaitlin, McGrath, event attendee Virginia Limmiatis, an unnamed New York State trooper and two unnamed state entity employees.[304][291] The investigation concluded that Cuomo's behavior included unwanted groping, kissing and sexual comments, and also found that Cuomo's office had engaged in illegal retaliation against Boylan for her allegation against him.[305][306]
Cuomo responded to the report with a denial: "I never touched anyone inappropriately."[305] The report generated public condemnation against the governor and heightened calls for him to resign.[307] On August 3, President Joe Biden called upon Cuomo to resign.[308] The release also prompted district attorneys for Manhattan, Nassau County, Westchester County, Albany County and Oswego County to pursue criminal investigations regarding his behavior.[309][310][311]
Cuomo later filed a complaint with New York's Supreme Court stating that James had publicly called him a "serial sexual harasser" and "sick and pathetic," violating one of theABA's responsibilities of a prosecutor stating that, "In the context of a criminal prosecution, a prosecutor's extrajudicial statement can create the additional problem of increasing public condemnation of the accused," Cuomo said.[312][313][314]
On August 10, 2021, despite denying all allegations of sexual harassment, Cuomo announced he would step down as Governor of New York, effective August 24.[315][316] On August 21, Cuomo said thatHurricane Henri would not affect his resignation.[317]
On October 28, 2021, a spokesman for the state court system announced that Cuomo would be charged with amisdemeanor sex crime in the Albany City Court.[318] However, on January 4, 2022, Albany County District Attorney David Soares dropped a criminal complaint against Cuomo and also announced that Cuomo would not face any other charges related to other groping allegations, citing lack of evidence. Three days later, a judge dropped the criminal charge against Cuomo.[319]
On December 23, 2021, Nassau county District Attorney Joyce Smith declined filing criminal charges.[320]
On December 28, 2021, the Westchester County District Attorney declined to issue criminal charges, citing "statutory requirements" of New York.[16][321]
On January 31, 2022, the fifth and final sexual misconduct case against Cuomo, made by Virginia Limmiatis, was dropped byOswego district attorney Gregory Oakes, effectively clearing him of all charges.[322][323]
On November 24, 2023, Commisso filed a lawsuit against Cuomo alleging sexual harassment under the New YorkAdult Survivors Act which extended the time period a victim could sue for sexual assault or harassment that had previously been beyond the statute of limitations. Commisso filed the lawsuit on the last day of the time limit to sue, with the window expiring at midnight on the 24th. The lawsuit alleges a number of inappropriate interactions and actions by Cuomo, and that Commisso hadn't come forward in fear of retaliation; which the suit claims did happen and that then-Lieutenant GovernorKathy Hochul demoted her to menial tasks in lower offices. Cuomo's attorney responded claiming that Commisso's claims were false and an attempt at a "cash-grab".[324]
According to theComptroller of New York State, the total costs relating to the investigations and legal cases from Cuomo's multiple scandals, had reached around $61 million by March 2025.[325][326] State law requires the state to pay for the legal costs incurred by current and former state officials, for any court cases relating to conduct that official has done while in office.[326][327] Part of the legal costs involve 16 different private law firms, for which the state was given a discounted rate.[327] These legal and investigative costs have become controversial as the costs would have to be paid by the general public via taxes, and that there is no legal limit to how much money Cuomo could ask the state to cover in legal costs.[327][328]
In 2022, the New York State Attorney General attempted to prevent the state from being required to pay for a portion of Cuomo's legal fees relating to the sexual misconduct scandal.[329] The Attorney General's spokesperson argued that "Sexually harassing young women who work for you is not part of anyone's job description. Taxpayers should not have to pony up for legal bills..."[329] Others said another reason was due to the lack of oversight as to how Cuomo's lawyers requested gynecological and other tests (which according to the law, the state must also pay) for the women in the sexual misconduct scandal, which many considered as harassing and intimidating the accusers.[325][330] However, Cuomo went to court where he would successfully sue the AG, claiming that the state was required to pay for those legal fees.[331][332]
The legal costs are expected to rise further, as Cuomo has opened a new lawsuit against the state comptroller on March 21, 2025, after rejecting to pay for a separate case against the AG that was dismissed by the court a month before.[333] Cuomo claims that he is entitled for the state to pay for his case because it involves activity that occurred when he was in office.[334]
The issue over the legal and investigative costs has become a major talking point by Cuomo's opponents in the2025 New York City Democratic mayoral primary, where some have asked Cuomo to pay back the $61 million to the state.[335] Due to the manner in which Cuomo has been causing an increase in legal costs that the state is required to pay for, a new bill was proposed in the state legislature.[336][334] However, the bill is facing push back frompublic sector unions.[337]
In 2008, during the Democratic Presidential primaries, Cuomo said, "You can't shuck and jive at a press conference", regarding Barack Obama. At the time, Obama was running against Hillary Clinton, who Cuomo supported. Some criticized Cuomo for his use of the phrase.Roland Martin ofCNN said that "'Shucking and jiving' have long been words used as a negative assessment of African Americans, along the lines of a 'foot shufflin'Negro'. In fact, I don't recall ever hearing the phrase used in reference to anyone white."[338]
On October 22, 2025, less than 20 minutes into the second mayoral debate, Cuomo'sX (previously Twitter) account posted anAI-generated advertisement that depicted a fictionalized New York in which his opponent,Zohran Mamdani, was elected. The two-minute video, titled "Criminals for Zohran Mamdani", depicted Mamdani running around New York while eating rice with his hands. It went on to show a black man in akeffiyeh professing his support for Mamdani while shoplifting from a pharmacy.[339] It also showed several other criminals, including a blackpimp trafficking several white women in a truck, a white domestic abuser, and a white middle-aged female drunk driver, all voicing support for Mamdani. The video ends with Mamdani releasing all of the criminals from prison, followed by a shot of New York City in flames.[340] It was shortly deleted, but was reuploaded by journalist Prem Thakker and viewed more than one million times. The video was widely condemned as "racist" and "disgusting", including by Mamdani himself.[339][340]
The next day, Cuomo appeared as a guest on conservative talk show hostSid Rosenberg's morning radio program, Sid & Friends in the Morning. In the conversation, Cuomo made comments regarding Mamdani, aMuslim, that were condemned asIslamophobic. For example, Cuomo said on the talk show: "God forbid, another9/11 — can you imagine Mamdani in that seat?", to which Rosenberg replied: "He'd be cheering". Cuomo laughed at Rosenberg's comments, and replied: "That's another problem". Cuomo's remarks drew widespread condemnation, including from his successor, Governor Kathy Hochul, who posted on X: "Time to get out of the gutter. Fear-mongering, hate speech, and Islamophobia are beneath New York — and everything we stand for as a state". Zohran Mamdani has no documentable ties to terrorist organizations, nor has he ever suggested that he celebrates the 9/11 terrorist attacks.[341]
Cuomo filed for a state retirement pension, to be effective September 1, 2021, based on 14.56 years of state service asattorney general and governor.[342] After resigning, Cuomo began working as a paid advisor to aSeychelles-basedcryptocurrency exchange,OKX, while the company faced legal problems.[343]
On March 3, 2022, during Cuomo's first public appearance since his resignation, he gave a speech at the God's Battalion of Prayer church inBrooklyn and came out againstcancel culture and hinted at a political comeback. Cuomo said, "The press roasted me, my colleagues were ridiculed, my brother was fired. It was ugly. It was probably the toughest time of my life." In the speech before an ally's church, he said, "Contrary to what my political opponents would have you believe, nothing I did violated the law or the regulation."[344]
On March 14, 2022, at an event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of theWarsaw Ghetto Uprising, Cuomo came out stating his plans to create an organization that will be called "Progressives for Israel". As part of his justification for this organization, he stated "You cannot denounce antisemitism but waver on Israel's right to exist and defend itself but it should be non-Jewish officials who speak first and loudest". Cuomo later declared "I am going to call the question for Democrats 'Do you stand with Israel or do you stand against Israel?'" This came amidst speculation that Cuomo intended to run in the2024 United States Senate election in New York.[345]
In February 2023, Andrew Cuomo criticized President Biden over the problems stemming from the Mexican border and migrants being displaced within the United States.[346] In November 2024, Cuomo joinedIsraeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu's legal defense team against theICC warrants for war crimes during the Gaza war.[347][348]
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On March 1, 2025, Cuomo announced his candidacy in the2025 New York City mayoral election.[349][350] Cuomo emphasized public safety and housing affordability in his campaign,[351] and branded himself as aprogressive because he passedliberal policies.[352] Analysts observed that Cuomo "developed a reputation as amoderate" and was seen as the "topcentrist".[353] On May 7, 2025, Cuomo filed to also run as an independent on the Fight and Deliver Party ticket.[354][355] Throughout the campaign, Cuomo emphasized his prior experience as governor and his opposition to antisemitism.[356][357] He has advocated for increasing the size of thepolice, a $20minimum wage, building 500,000 new homes, andtax relief.[358] Cuomo raised all of his funds from 2,821 donors during the first 13 days of his mayoral candidacy in March 2025. He surpassed $1.51 million in fundraising as of March 17, 2025.[359] He also formed a third party named "Fight and Deliver" to give himself a second ballot line under New York'sfusion voting system. This would allow Cuomo to remain on the general election ballot should he lose the Democratic primary election.[360]
On June 24, Cuomo conceded the race for the Democratic nomination after first-round results showedZohran Mamdani with a commanding lead.[361] However, he remained on the ballot for the general election, opting to stay on the Fight and Deliver ballot line.[362][363] On July 14, 2025, Cuomo confirmed he would campaign as an independent.[364]
Cuomo's 2025 mayoral campaign was supported by the Fix the City super PAC, which spent $23 million during the primary the largest amount ever spent in a New York City mayoral primary. The super PAC's major contributors included real estate interests, $1 million fromDoorDash,[365] and a multi-million dollar contribution from former MayorMichael Bloomberg. OpponentZohran Mamdani attacked Cuomo over these "Trump-backed" donors.[366]
On November 4, 2025, Cuomo lost the general election to Mamdani.[19][20][21] Cuomo conceded the election in a speech to his supporters, but did not call Mamdani.[367][368] Political commentators considered the election loss to be the end of Cuomo's political career.[369][370][371]
| Year | Office | Type | Party | Main opponent | Party | Votes for Cuomo | Result | Swing | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | % | P. | |||||||||||
| 2002 | Governor of New York | Primary | Democratic | Carl McCall | Democratic | 93,195[a] | 14.72% | 2nd | Lost | N/A | |||
| General | Liberal | George Pataki | Republican | 15,761[a] | 0.34% | 7th | Lost | Hold | |||||
| 2006 | Attorney General of New York | Primary | Democratic | Mark Green | Democratic | 404,086 | 53.52% | 1st | Won | N/A | |||
| General | Democratic | Jeanine Pirro | Republican | 2,509,311 | 58.31% | 1st | Won | Hold | |||||
| 2010 | Governor of New York | Primary | Democratic | Unopposed | Won | N/A | |||||||
| General | Democratic | Carl Paladino | Republican | 2,910,876 | 63.05% | 1st | Won | Hold | |||||
| 2014 | Primary | Democratic | Zephyr Teachout | Democratic | 361,380 | 62.92% | 1st | Won | N/A | ||||
| General | Democratic | Rob Astorino | Republican | 2,069,480 | 54.28% | 1st | Won | Hold | |||||
| 2018 | Primary | Democratic | Cynthia Nixon | Democratic | 1,021,160 | 65.53% | 1st | Won | N/A | ||||
| General | Democratic | Marc Molinaro | Republican | 3,635,340 | 59.62% | 1st | Won | Hold | |||||
| 2025 | Mayor of New York City | Primary | Democratic | Zohran Mamdani | Democratic | 443,229 | 43.61% | 2nd | Lost | N/A | |||
| General | Independent[b] | Democratic | 854,995 | 41.59% | 2nd | Lost | Hold | ||||||
_Color_Balance.jpg)
Cuomo marriedKerry Kennedy, the seventh child ofRobert F. Kennedy andEthel Skakel Kennedy, on June 9, 1990. They have three daughters: twins Cara Ethel Kennedy-Cuomo and Mariah Matilda Kennedy-Cuomo (born 1995), and Michaela Andrea Kennedy-Cuomo (born 1997).[372] They separated in 2003 and divorced in 2005.[373] Also in 2005, Cuomo began datingFood Network hostSandra Lee,[218] and the couple moved in together in 2011. The two resided inWestchester County, New York.[374][372][375] On September 25, 2019, the couple announced that they had ended their relationship.[376]
On July 4, 2015, Cuomo presided over the wedding ceremony of his longtime friendBilly Joel to his fourth wife, Alexis Roderick.[377] Cuomo isCatholic.[378] According toThe New York Times, Cuomo's positions in favor of abortion rights and same-sex marriage, as well as his cohabitation with Lee without marrying her,[374] have "become a lightning rod in a decades-old culture war between conservative Catholics and those, like Mr. Cuomo, who disagree with the church's positions on various issues, including abortion and divorce".[378]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic, Cuomo became known by the nickname of the "Love Gov" after answering a question by his brother, then-CNN anchorChris Cuomo, about showing his softer tone while leading coronavirus response efforts. The governor responded with, "I've always been a soft guy. I am the love gov. I'm a cool dude in a loose mood, you know that. I just say, 'Let it go, just go with the flow, baby.' You know. You can't control anything, so don't even try."[379][380]
Cuomo drives a 1968Pontiac GTO and aDodge Charger.[381]
Bruce Paisner presented Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York with the 2020 International Emmy Founders Award for his exceptional use of television for Public service during the Covid-19 pandemic. Joining him were fellow New Yorkers Billy Joel, Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, Rosie Perez and Ben Stiller, who recorded special congratulatory messages.
I believe I am a progressive, right. That word 'progressive' has been distorted and misused. That's not a new term. That's not a term they came up with a few years ago...As governor, I made progress. Passed marriage equality—first big state—changed the whole conversation nationwide, $15 highest minimum wage in the United States of America. So no one did the progressive things that we did: and we got them done!
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