Cuomo Jokes About Fleeing to Florida If Mamdani Wins NYC Mayor Race

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo dropped a bombshell quip at a private Hamptons breakfast, joking that he’d pack his bags for Florida if Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani wins the New York City mayoral race. The line, delivered with a smirk to a room of political insiders, drew laughs but also underscored the high stakes and growing concerns about the city’s future direction.

Cuomo, who lost to Mamdani in the Democratic primary but is gearing up for a rematch as an independent in the general election, didn’t hold back. "It’s all or nothing. We either win, or even I will move to Florida. God forbid," he said, according to attendees at the Southampton event hosted by businessman and GOP donor John Catsimatidis. The room, packed with heavyweights like RXR Realty Chairman Bruce Mosler and former Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa, buzzed with the weight of his words.

Cuomo’s sharp tongue also targeted Mamdani’s policies, labeling the 33-year-old socialist’s rent freeze proposal a "death sentence" for landlords and dismissing his platform as little more than catchy but empty slogans. He repeatedly called Mamdani "the kid," painting him as dangerously inexperienced for the role of leading America’s largest city.

Not sparing current Mayor Eric Adams, running as an independent, Cuomo took a swipe at his leadership, claiming the city hasn’t had a competent mayor since Bloomberg. Adams fired back with a jab of his own, suggesting Cuomo might as well head to Florida since he’s already spending weekends in the Hamptons.

With Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa also in the mix, this mayoral race is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable and contentious in recent history. Cuomo’s camp doubled down on the Florida remark, with senior adviser Rich Azzopardi emphasizing that the former governor would never abandon New York, but the comment was meant to highlight the risks of electing an untested leader with radical ideas.

As the battle for NYC heats up, Cuomo’s blend of humor and hard-hitting critique keeps the spotlight on a race that could redefine the city’s future.