Jewish voters in New York ready to rally for Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral bid: Eric Adams ‘fried’, advocates say

Prominent Jewish activists told The Post that many mainstream and conservative Jews are ready to rally around Andrew Cuomo if he runs for mayor.

“Cuomo is a moderate with a deep history with the Jewish community and a long history of fighting on issues we care about, like combating anti-Semitism and strong support for Israel,” a source said, just days after embattled Mayor Eric Adams. He appeared in Manhattan court on Friday. on extensive corruption charges.

“The Jewish community is very concerned about Cuomo entering the race. Many of us will mobilize for him,” said the Jewish organizer, who wished to remain anonymous, adding that he had discussed the candidacy with Cuomo.

“Cuomo will be the Jewish community’s best candidate,” another Jewish advocate said.

This development comes as even some of Adams’ supporters have expressed serious doubts about his ability to survive politically and be re-elected regardless of the outcome of the criminal case.

“I doubt Eric will survive and participate in next year’s election,” said Michael Nussbaum, former president of the Jewish Council of Queens and a board member of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.

“I would support Andrew Cuomo. We know he can govern and govern,” Nussbaum said, adding that she spoke with the former administration last week.

Another Jewish leader said Adams was “fried” in terms of his effort to win re-election.

The city’s Jewish population is listed at 960,000 of the city’s population of approximately 8.3 million. According to a recently published report. Jerry Skurnik, a voter data analyst who runs Engage Voters USA, said Jews could make up 20 percent to 25 percent of the Democratic primary vote.

This large voting bloc was a major reason why Adams was successful in the 2021 campaign. Jewish leaders praised Adams for being a strong advocate and combating rising antisemitism following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

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“Middle-class Jews in the city are looking for someone who can lead from the center,” David Pollock, a former executive director of the New York Jewish Community Relations Council, said of Adams’ possible successor.

Adams’ campaign insisted Hizzoner still has solid support in the Jewish community, and some leaders said Sunday they remained in the mayor’s corner.

“I’m with the mayor right now. Adams did the job like a teenager,” said Rabbi Mendy Miroznik, president of the Staten Island Council of Jewish Organizations.

“He deserves due process under the law. You are innocent until proven guilty,” Miroznik said.

“We are pleased with his commitment to the Jewish community,” said Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis. “His loyalty didn’t start when he became mayor.”

Jewish activists said other Democratic candidates who announced their candidacy for mayor were too far to the left for many Jewish voters.

The mayoral candidates include the city’s highest-ranking Jewish elected official. Auditor Brad LanderSources said:

Lander supported the unsuccessful reelection of Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a fiery leftist who is a major foe of Israel, one of the sources said.

Lander, in his own words, “progressive ZionistHe even attended rallies against Israel’s military actions in Gaza in response to the October 7 attack. Some observers said his positions made him popular among left-leaning Jews but alienated him from the mainstream.

“There is a Jewish problem,” said Ken Frydman, political consultant for Democrats he told The Post last month.

Cuomo served three terms as governor with strong Jewish support, and his connections to Jewish groups date back to the term of his father, Mario Cuomo, who served three terms as governor from 1983 to 1994.

As governor, Andrew Cuomo released a statement. executive order Banning government agencies from doing business with companies that support boycotts, divestments, and sanctions against Israel was a policy implemented by his successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul.

On Friday, Cuomo did not rule out running for mayor but did not call on Adams to resign.

A Cuomo spokesperson said, “Governor Cuomo has spent a lifetime in public service fighting for and serving the people of New York and will do whatever he can to help – however, this speculation has not yet been made as Governor Cuomo believes Mayor Adams is entitled to due process.” “It’s early,” he said. Richard Azzopardi said in his statement.

If Cuomo runs for mayor, he will be making a comeback from his own tarnished legacy, and that will be a tough challenge to overcome. Even his fans say it won’t be a piece of cake.

HE resigned in disgrace In August 2021, after a scathing investigative report commissioned by State Attorney General Letitia James’s office substantiated allegations from female workers that he sexually harassed them.

Under threat of impeachment, Cuomo resigned despite denying wrongdoing.

Cuomo has never been charged with a crime, but fought civil cases filed by alleged victims.

The former governor also faced harsh criticism for his controversial March 25, 2020 edict encouraging nursing homes to accept recovering COVID-19 patients during the pandemic, which some analysts argue contributed to the deaths of nursing home residents.

So was he accused of miscarriage Public disclosure of pandemic-related nursing home deaths.

In addition, the former governor was criticized by nursing home families for signing a $5 million for-profit book chronicling New York’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic while the outbreak was still ongoing.

If Adams resigns and the city’s Public Advocate Jumaane Williams takes over on an interim basis, the law requires that a special election for mayor be held if the resignation occurs 90 days before the primary election in June.

Anyone can vote in such a special election, so a moderate candidate like Cuomo would have a better chance of winning than in a hard-line Democratic primary.