Andrew Cuomo is running for New York City mayor, but he’s already thinking much bigger. Even before winning the race, he is planning a national campaign to fight against former President Donald Trump. This comes while Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly investigating Cuomo over his actions as New York governor during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cuomo Wants to Take on Trump Nationwide
In a recent interview with POLITICO, Cuomo said he wants to organize Democrats across the country. His main goal is to fight Trump’s plan to cut Medicaid. Cuomo believes that if Democrats highlight how these cuts would hurt people — especially in Republican areas — they could win back control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Medicaid is not just for blue states. It matters in red states too,” Cuomo said. “If we organize and speak up, Republicans could lose the House.”
Cuomo said he would travel across the U.S., attending meetings with mayors and governors. He would explain what Medicaid means in places like Mississippi and Texas. He wants to become a voice for people in all states, showing how Trump’s plans would hurt their health care.
Cuomo Faces DOJ Investigation
At the same time, Cuomo is being investigated by the DOJ. The investigation started after House Republicans accused him of lying to Congress about nursing home deaths during the Covid crisis. Back then, Cuomo ordered nursing homes to accept Covid-positive patients, saying he was following federal rules. Critics claim this decision caused many unnecessary deaths and that his team hid the real numbers.
Cuomo continues to say he didn’t lie and that he doesn’t remember being involved in changing the report about the deaths. He has not been contacted by the DOJ yet and says the investigation is “purely political.”
“This is all just political nonsense,” Cuomo told POLITICO. “I haven’t received any subpoena.”
This legal issue hasn’t stopped him from moving forward with his mayoral campaign or his larger political plans.
Cuomo’s Political Strategy
Cuomo said that the position of New York City mayor doesn’t come with much direct power over national politics. But he plans to use his public voice to push back against Trump’s influence and rally Democratic voters across the U.S.
“As mayor, you need to be an organizer and a spokesperson,” he said. “You need to tell people how Trump’s plans will hurt them, and you need to get them involved.”
He also mentioned Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, who represents a swing district in New York. Cuomo said cutting Medicaid in Lawler’s district would cause a political backlash.
Cuomo Leads the Mayoral Race
Cuomo is currently leading in the Democratic primary to replace Mayor Eric Adams, who is now running as an independent. Adams’ own connections to Trump — especially after a federal corruption case — have made his campaign weaker.
Since entering the mayoral race in March, Cuomo has become more aggressive in his tone against Trump. At first, he spoke about their shared roots in Queens, but now he’s showing himself as someone ready to fight back. He even made an ad presenting himself as a victim of “lawfare,” saying Trump uses investigations to scare his enemies.
“Any Democratic mayor who opposes Trump should expect to be investigated,” Cuomo warned.
Past Troubles Still Haunt Cuomo
Cuomo resigned as New York governor in 2021 after a report claimed he sexually harassed several women. He denied the claims but stepped down anyway. Now, winning the mayor’s office could help him rebuild his reputation and influence.
Although he says he’s focused only on the mayoral race, many believe he has bigger national goals in mind.
There is a long history of New York City mayors trying to become national leaders. Rudy Giuliani, Mike Bloomberg, and Bill de Blasio all failed in their presidential campaigns. Cuomo may try to avoid those mistakes, but it’s clear he is thinking beyond New York City.
This is a major Breaking News story and a key moment in the Daily news highlights. As Cuomo leads the mayoral race, he is also preparing to fight Trump and shape national Democratic politics. With legal trouble in the background and a new campaign style up front, Cuomo is making a bold bet on his political comeback.
