ALBANY, N.Y. — Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo isn’t just looking to clear his name; now he wants his old job back.
Cuomo, who resigned of his own volition last year in the wake of multiple sexual misconduct allegations, is eyeing a primary run against Gov. Kathy Hochul, according to a report from CNBC on Wednesday.
According to the report, Cuomo fielded calls from supporters about running for governor and is commissioning internal polling as he weighs a potential showdown with his one-time lieutenant governor.
The man who once commissioned a paper mache mountain symbolizing the stark toll COVID took on New York has made clear he has no intention of staying out of the spotlight.
Cuomo made his first public remarks since his resignation earlier this month at a Brooklyn church, where he claimed in a speech that “cancel culture” was to blame for his political downfall.
The 64-year-old, who maintains his innocence, took aim at state Attorney General Letitia James during his sermon, claiming that her office engaged in “prosecutorial misconduct” by releasing a report corroborating allegations that he sexually harassed 11 women, many of them younger aides.
A poll released last week by Emerson College found Cuomo would be a formidable challenger for Hochul should he enter the race ahead of the June primary. Hochul received 37% of Democratic voter support in a hypothetical match-up, while Cuomo garnered 33%. Neither U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., nor Public Advocate Jumaane Williams could register even double-digit support.
The CNBC report came hours after Hochul signed off on a package of sexual harassment and retaliation-related bills written in response to the scandals swirling around her predecessor.
One new law will prohibit the release of personnel files as a retaliatory action against employees.
The bill was penned after Cuomo aides released confidential personnel files related to former adviser Lindsey Boylan, the first of nearly a dozen women to accuse Cuomo of inappropriate behavior.
Still, the ex-governor has his supporters. He recently dined with both New York City Mayor Eric Adams and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on separate occasions and will appear at a Bronx church on Thursday at the invite of controversial ex-City Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr.
A group of Cuomo die-hards formed in the wake of his downfall, dubbed New Yorkers for Justice, gathered at a Queens hotel last month for a roundtable talk and encouraged the disgraced Democrat to enter the race clear his name.
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