Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) may not be done with politics just yet.
The Democrat is close to throwing his hat in the ring to become the New York City mayor, The Hill reported.
But that is not all — his name is being tossed around for the 2028 presidential campaign.
Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons said Cuomo may be just what the Democratic Party needs to garner a win and squash the wave the GOP has enjoyed since President Donald Trump’s win in November.
“If Andrew Cuomo becomes mayor of New York, he could very well be Trump’s chief antagonist starting in 2026, which could give Democrats a voice to rally around, however imperfect a messenger he may be,” said Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons.
Cuomo offered his resignation in 2021 when he was accused of sexual harassment and was criticized for the way he reported COVID-19 deaths in New York.
He has denied any wrongdoing and has largely been out of the public eye since then.
While Cuomo’s reputation may have tarnished, another Democratic strategist pointed out this is the Trump era — a time when a convicted felon can become president.
“I don’t think we’re looking for purity anymore or we shouldn’t be,” the strategist said. “We need someone who’s a strong messenger, who knows how to communicate to the public and is willing to put on the gloves and punch.”
Even though the next president race will not take place until 2028, many are being eyed the the candidacy.
They include Govs. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.), Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.), Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.), Wes Moore (D-Md.) former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
More than two dozen candidates are expected to enter the race for the presidency.
This time, Trump will be finishing his second administration and will not be eligible to run again.
But Democrats are seeking someone who can take on Trump and MAGA followers.
“I think one of Andrew’s strongest qualities is that people feel like he’s fighting for them,” Democratic strategist Basil Smikle said. “And that’s the uniqueness of this moment. Candidates can’t just sell their good governance. They have to be in the fight and he proved that during the first Trump administration.”
If Cuomo ultimately decides to run for mayor, his opponent would be current Mayor Eric Adams.
Adams was indicted on five counts of corruption in September.
Polls show Cuomo with a double-digit lead over Adams, per The Hill.
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) has endorsed Cuomo for mayor, saying “has the courage to stand up to extremist politics — both from the far left and right.”
“We don’t need a Mr. Nice Guy,” Torres added. “We need a Mr. Tough Guy.”
One former Cuomo aide feels differently.
“He’s too damaged and people won’t let that go,” the former aide said. “He also represents the politics of the past. The Democrats can’t look back. They need candidates of the future.”
If Cuomo should win the mayoral race, this will leave little time to campaign for the presidency.
“The [mayor’s] job is so intense that it really forces you to focus here and not have your eye on anything else,” Smikle said.
But should Cuomo decide to run for president, he has at least one ally.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Cuomo may be more popular than people realize.
“I think he’d be a candidate that a lot of people, as I’ve heard from the district that I represent, would be very interested in checking out,” Jeffries said.
