Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared at a recent Hamptons breakfast event that he would relocate to Florida if he loses the New York City mayoral race to socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, according to the New York Post. Speaking before an audience of business leaders and influential figures hosted by supermarket magnate John Catsimatidis, Cuomo said, “It’s all or nothing. We either win or even I will move to Florida. God forbid!” The comment, met with laughter, was later confirmed by Cuomo’s campaign as a joke intended to emphasize the high stakes of the election. Still, “It was a wow line,” one attendee said, adding, “It got everyone’s attention.”
Cuomo, who was defeated by Mamdani in the June 24 Democratic primary and is now running as an Independent in the November general election, used the occasion to criticize Mamdani’s proposals—most notably the plan to freeze rents on stabilized apartments. Cuomo described this measure as a “death sentence” for the housing market, asserting it would lead landlords to reduce property maintenance.
Throughout the event, Cuomo referred to Mamdani dismissively as “kid” and portrayed his platform as unrealistic and driven by slogans rather than practical policies.
In addition to his remarks about Mamdani, Cuomo also targeted incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, another Democrat running as an Independent for re-election. Cuomo claimed that New York City has lacked effective leadership since Michael Bloomberg left office in 2013, accusing Adams of being distracted by a closed federal corruption probe and other problems during his tenure.
In response to Cuomo’s statement about moving to Florida, his spokesperson Rich Azzopardi emphasized that Cuomo would never abandon New York. The spokesperson characterized the comment as a humorous overstatement that underlined the risks posed by Mamdani’s candidacy—a young, inexperienced socialist whom Cuomo’s team apparently views as a dangerous candidate.
“Governor Cuomo would never give up on New York,” Azzopardi said. “That said, the line underscored the stakes in the upcoming election and the risk of electing a dangerously inexperienced, hate-spewing 33-year-old socialist whose campaign consists of unrealistic bumper sticker slogans.”
The exchange even caught the attention of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who posted a playful reply on X urging Cuomo not to relocate: “Don’t New York our Florida!”
Despite the apparent joke, the situation is no laughing matter. Cuomo’s remarks reflect his effort to rally moderates and independent voters by framing Mamdani’s potential victory as a dramatic and dangerous shift toward far-far-left policies in New York City.
