NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) -- Former Governor Andrew Cuomo says he wants to appeal to more New Yorkers by starting his own third party while insisting he is not turning his back on the Democratic Party.
Cuomo said Tuesday he will create a third party named "Fight and Deliver." He aims to give himself a second line on the November general election ballot where all New Yorkers will vote for mayor.
"Trump didn't win, Democrats lost," Cuomo said in a statement. "I believe that Democrats can and will turn this around. We will do it by fighting for and delivering real results for real people, by restoring quality of life and public safety, by building more affordable housing, and by showing that government works."
But the launch of the "Fight and Deliver" party, even as Cuomo is running well ahead in the Democratic Primary polls, is raising eyebrows.
"He's scared," wrote Zohran Mamdani, a Queens Assemblyman also seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor. “Cuomo is a Democrat in name only, and after the June primary, he won't even be that."
"Everyone knows that Andrew Cuomo only gets into a race if he’s confident he can win," wrote Alyssa Cass, a spokeswoman for former Comptroller Scott Stringer. Stringer is also seeking the Democratic nomination. "Something is shifting if they are hedging their bets like this."
PIX11 asked a spokeswoman for Cuomo if the former governor would still run on a third-party line even if he lost the Democratic Primary for New York City Mayor in June.
"He is winning the Democratic primary," the Cuomo spokeswoman said.
Mayor Eric Adams has already said he would be seeking re-election as an independent candidate this November.
“All he’s doing is looking at Eric Adams’ playbook,” chided Adams during a press event Tuesday.
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