The New York City mayoral election this November is quickly molding into one of the most intriguing races this year.

Many analysts expected former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to breeze through the Democratic primary in his political comeback.

However, New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani pulled off the upset and sent a shockwave through the Big Apple.

Mamdani will square off against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who’s running as an independent, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.

Cuomo added another ripple to the race by deciding to remain on the ballot as an independent candidate.

🚨Report: Andrew Cuomo has decided that he will stay in the New York City Mayoral Race after conceding Democratic primary to Mamdani pic.twitter.com/qpxMUasSk2

— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) June 27, 2025

Fox News reports:

While he acknowledged Mamdani’s victory in the primary, Cuomo left the door open to a November run as an independent candidate, which election rules in New York State permit.

“I want to look at all the numbers as they come in and analyze the rank choice voting. I will then consult with my colleagues on what is the best path for me to help the City of New York, as I have already qualified to run for mayor on an independent line in November,” Cuomo said in a statement earlier this week.

Cuomo was facing an end-of-the-day Friday deadline for candidates who had already qualified to run as independents to decline that independent ballot line.

The former governor will keep his place that he already secured earlier this year on the “Fight & Deliver” ballot line. But the sources said that Cuomo had not committed yet to running an active general election campaign through the summer and into the autumn.

If Cuomo drops out of the race at a later date, his name will stay on the general election ballot.

If Cuomo is on the ballot in November, Sliwa could potentially be a benefactor.

With Democratic voters being split in at least three different directions, the Republican candidate could generate enough support for an upset victory in the general election.

Former three-term New York Republican Gov. George Pataki thinks Sliwa could win because of a weak field of Democrat candidates.

🚨BREAKING: Our last great governor, @GovernorPataki, says @CurtisSliwa can win the mayoral election. The momentum is real.

Let’s get Curtis elected! pic.twitter.com/CFW3t2HpvB

— Sliwa for NYC Mayor 2025 (@TeamSliwa) June 19, 2025

However, not everyone agrees with that sentiment.

The New York Post explained:

It remains unclear whether Cuomo will actually mount an active general election campaign. Sources close to Cuomo’s camp previously said the former governor almost certainly would not.

Even if he doesn’t actively campaign, staying on the general election ballot could siphon votes from Mayor Eric Adams, who will also be running on an independent line.

“If Cuomo stays in the race he splits the anti-Mamdani vote and helps Mamdani,” said state Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar, a Dyker Heights resident.

“He’s playing the spoiler — 100 percent. He has no chance of winning and only takes votes from Adams and Curtis,” Kassar said, referring to GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa.

Lawyer Jim Walden is also running as an independent candidate in the general election.