Andrew Cuomo calls race against Zohran Mamdani ‘most important’ in his lifetime as future of NYC hangs in balance

Independent mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo called Tuesday the “most important election” in his lifetime as he made a final push to upset front-runner Zohran Mamdani.

The former governor said this year’s race was a battle for the future of the city — and the Democratic Party. Cuomo is a Democrat but lost to Mamdani in a party primary in June, then continued with his bid without a major party line on city ballots.

“I’m not a kid, but this is the most important election of my lifetime,” Cuomo told reporters as he voted at the High School of Art and Design on 56th Street in Manhattan just before noon Tuesday.

“This is going to determine the future of the city of New York. It may also determine the future of the Democratic Party,” Cuomo said, taking aim at Mamdani’s democratic socialist agenda.

“This is frightening stuff and I think that’s why you’re seeing New Yorkers react and New Yorkers turn out. I’m offering the exact opposite,” Cuomo said.

The remarks came less than 24 hours after President Trump made a surprise last-minute endorsement of his one-time foe.

“I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE,” Trump posted in part on TruthSocial.

Cuomo has since tried to walk the line on Trump’s last minute intervention, technically not accepting the endorsement.

“The president doesn’t support me. The president opposes Mamdani,” Cuomo said.

After being chased by reporters to his waiting car, the ex-gov held up traffic as he was pushed to address Trump’s endorsement further.

Cuomo called Trump “pragmatic” in believing that GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa is, at this point, a spoiler candidate to help Mamdani’s chances.

“The president is nothing if not pragmatic,” Cuomo said standing next to his white Ford Bronco.

“There is no chance for Sliwa to win and in effect a vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani and I agree with him there,” he added.

Voters who spoke with The Post agreed at the importance they feel of this year’s race, but were frustrated by their options.

“All these people are unqualified, they shouldn’t have even been allowed to apply,” Howard, 82, a Republican from the Upper East Side told The Post.

Howard and his wife Sylvia, an independent, said they voted for Cuomo.

“I think he’s [Mamdani] got some eccentric views. He started out earlier and now he’s changed, he’s different. I voted Cuomo because he’s got experience, even though he’s backed by Trump,” Sylvia said.

“I think the best case scenario from this election is that the city won’t get any worse,” Mark Galinovsky, 34, a law student who lives in Astoria told The Post.

Galinovsky said he voted for Cuomo in part because he thinks Mamdani won’t do enough to combat antisemitism and follow through on his policy promises, but that Democrats need to figure out how to move forward as a party.

“I do think the Democratic party is going to have to find out a way to cooperate and listen to everyone’s voice,” Galinovsky said.

Peter Charles, a 46-year-old real estate broker who’s voting for Mamdani because he’s a “departure from business as usual”.

“I don’t believe you can make the city affordable just as a mayor but you can prevent it from being less affordable,” Charles said, with a bit of skepticism at the 34-year-old’s ability to fix everything on his own.