Andrew Cuomo To Receive Labor Endorsement In Mayor’s Race He's Yet To Enter

NEW YORK — Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s likely mayoral bid will receive its first labor union endorsement from the New York City District Council of Carpenters, three people familiar with the matter told POLITICO.

The union endorsed incumbent Eric Adams four years ago, but Cuomo has been actively courting the mayor’s key supporters as he builds a campaign that’s expected to launch in the coming days ahead of the June 24 Democratic primary.

A union representative on Monday did not deny Cuomo will be given the group’s nod. “When it’s time to announce an endorsement we will,” said Kevin Elkins, the union’s political director.

A Cuomo spokesperson declined to comment.

The former governor, who resigned in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations that he’s denied, is considered the front-runner in the race he’s yet to enter. Public polling has shown him with a comfortable lead over the declared Democrats in the race, despite having some of the highest negative ratings of those in the field. (He also has among the highest positives.)

His rivals have begun pouncing on his record, a group has begun spending money in ads against him and Mayor Eric Adams — hobbled by the fallout from a federal indictment — on Monday waved off questions about Cuomo’s early strength.

The former governor enjoyed a warm relationship with most trade unions when he was in elected office, though he battled with public employee labor groups early in his first term amid a state budget crunch.

The carpenters are not typically considered a top-tier union endorsement in New York City Democratic primaries, like the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council or 32BJ SEIU. But union influence is ever shifting and candidates generally seek them out nonetheless.