Jessica Ramos once called for Andrew Cuomo's resignation. Now she's endorsing him in New York's mayoral race.
In the race for New York City mayor, Democratic candidate Jessica Ramos, a state senator from Queens and one of Andrew Cuomo's harshest critics, is now telling voters to cast their ballot for him.
Ramos is staying in the race, but asked voters to rank Cuomo first because she says her low polling numbers and inability to raise money make it impossible for her to prevail.
Ramos said she thinks Cuomo is the best person to take on President Trump, but it was only a few months ago that she claimed Cuomo's "mental acuity is in decline."
"Donald Trump isn't just a national threat. He's promised punishment. He's promised revenge and I take that seriously. And we're not going to beat that with hash tags and headline stunts. We need serious governing. We need delivery over dogma. Knowing how to govern matters, and that's why I'm endorsing Andrew Cuomo for mayor today," Ramos said Friday. "This wasn't an easy decision."
Jessica Ramos endorses Andrew Cuomo in NYC mayor's race
It might not have been an easy decision for Ramos, but it was a delight for Cuomo, who now gets the support of a woman who called for his resignation following sexual harassment charges. Her endorsement will help combat voter misgivings about the harassment scandal.
"Jessica believes what I believe, what you believe. She has always been there fighting for those who were left out and left behind. She is the voice for those without a voice," Cuomo said.
Ramos' endorsement of Cuomo is a blow to progressives who are hoping to use the city's ranked choice voting system to stop the ex-governor. It comes a day after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another Queens Latina, endorsed Zohran Mamdani in the race.
"To see her throw all of her values away and betray the New Yorkers she's been fighting for is heartbreaking and disgusting," City Councilmember Chi Osse said.
Cynthia Nixon, who ran and lost to Cuomo in the 2018 Democratic primary, posted her misgivings on social media.
"I'm choosing to remember the Jessica Ramos who ... supported the women who were sexually harassed, remembered the people Cuomo sent to die in nursing homes & always called out Cuomo's corruption, mismanagement & lies. I'll miss that Ramos, where did she go?" Nixon wrote.
Meanwhile, a rally held by Mamdani to raise questions about a $2.5 million contribution Cuomo received from a landlord super PAC was interrupted by protesters who called Mamdani a liar. Mamdani fled, but then spoke to reporters on a street corner, claiming the protesters were Trump supporters.
"We have said from the beginning of this campaign we will not be distracted by Donald Trump's MAGA movement," Mamdani said. "What we need to understand is this movement that we are leading, a movement without precedent in New York City, is one that threatens the Trump administration and his right wing movement alongside him. It threatens them because I'm Donald Trump's worst nightmare."
Cuomo attacked in Democratic debate
Cuomo is the overwhelming frontrunner in the Democratic race, followed in most polls by Mamdani.
Cuomo was the favorite punching bag during the first debate earlier this week. His fellow Democratic candidates attacked him over the sexual harassment and nursing home scandals that forced him from the governor's office four years ago.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is running for reelection on the independent ticket.
Early voting in the primary election starts June 14 ahead of Election Day on June 24. Like the last mayoral primary, voters will use ranked choice voting to select up to five candidates.
