Cuomo says open to running again for New York governor, floats third-party bid

Ex-New York Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he's open to running the state again and doesn't feel tied to any political party.

Cuomo, who served his three gubernatorial terms as a Democrat before resigning in disgrace in August 2021, said Thursday during his second public address this month that he would consider establishing his own political party to regain power.

"I'm open to all options," he said in response to a question at the small church in the Bronx at which he spoke.

When asked about whether he'd consider creating his own political party to do it, he said, "I’ve done it before. My father’s done it before."

In 2014, Cuomo established the "Women's Equality Party" – roughly seven years before he left office over several sexual misconduct allegations. The creation of the party was at the time considered an attempt to damage the Working Families Party, which was considering an endorsement of Cuomo's progressive rival Zephyr Teachout.

Cuomo, who when leaving office said he was unjustly forced out, in his recent return to public life is also making a call to "cancel the cancel culture," which he describes as "a social death penalty." 

Cuomo, 64, resigned following an investigation by the office of state Attorney General Letitia James, who found credible accusations from multiple women that he had sexually harassed them or made inappropriate comments to them.

Cuomo issued apologies but maintained that his actions were misinterpreted.

"I’m trying to cross the bridge from resentment to reconciliation," he told the crowd Thursday. 

Recent polling shows Cuomo trailing incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul 33-to-37% in a hypothetical Democrat matchup.