Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned in August 2021 amid harassment allegations and an impeachment inquiry, is making public appearances again and criticizing some of his fellow Democrats’ policies on crime, prompting speculation about his potential political comeback.
Cuomo, who served three terms as governor, recently launched a political action committee (PAC) and a gun safety advocacy group called the Gun Safe America Project. In recent months, Cuomo has been speaking out against what he sees as misguided or extreme positions within the Democratic Party.
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to create a new political action committee and an organization focused on gun violence issues https://t.co/AEVyZWpmna
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) September 29, 2022
In a video published on his YouTube channel and social media accounts in April, Cuomo accused Democrats of ignoring crime and hurting the people they represent. “There is no crime problem. It’s all Republican propaganda,” he said, mocking the democrats opposition for more police funding and tougher penalties for criminals.
He argued that Democrats’ “far-left politics” had created a crisis of violence and insecurity in cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, which he said were “out of control.”Cuomo’s video drew criticism from some progressives who accused him of fear-mongering and distorting the facts.
Cuomo also wrote an op-ed for the New York Daily News in April, claiming that Americans were leaving blue states for red states because of factors such as high taxes, high crime, poor schools, and bad weather. He suggested that Democrats needed to focus on improving the quality of life for all citizens, not just catering to their progressive base.
He criticized the “defund the police” movement and the “tax the rich” proposals, which he said would only hurt working-class families and small businesses. Cuomo’s recent statements have fueled speculation that he may be planning to run for office again, possibly for the U.S. Senate or for governor in 2022 or 2024.
Cuomo has not confirmed or denied these rumors, but his allies have said that he is keeping his options open and that he still enjoys significant support among some New Yorkers, especially moderate and conservative Democrats who appreciate his tough stance on crime and fiscal responsibility.
The former governor’s critics, however, argue that he has lost his credibility and his moral authority after the scandals that forced him out of office last year. They say that his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which included underreporting nursing home deaths and bullying critics, was a disgraceful abuse of power.
His behavior toward women, which involved groping, kissing, and making suggestive comments to aides and reporters, was a pattern of harassment that had to be stopped. Political consultants and strategists have mixed views on Cuomo’s comeback prospects.
