In a stunning twist to the 2025 New York City Democratic mayoral primary, State Senator Jessica Ramos has endorsed former Governor Andrew Cuomo, her erstwhile rival, shaking up a crowded and contentious race. The announcement came on Friday, June 6, 2025, at a campaign event held at the District Council of Carpenters’ union headquarters in lower Manhattan, where both politicians appeared side by side.
Ramos, a progressive lawmaker representing parts of western Queens, including neighborhoods such as Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, and Corona, had been one of Cuomo’s harshest critics. Throughout her mayoral campaign, she repeatedly condemned Cuomo’s record, especially his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sexual harassment allegations that led to his resignation as governor in 2021. Just a few months prior, in April 2025, she questioned Cuomo’s mental acuity, warning New Yorkers that they could not afford “another Joe Biden moment” at City Hall, referring to the former president’s age and health concerns.
Yet, despite this history, Ramos declared at the event that the mayoral race was fundamentally about “governing, not posturing,” and praised Cuomo as “the one best positioned right now to protect this city.” She emphasized the urgency of the moment, citing the threat she believes President Donald Trump poses to New York City. “With Trump threatening to bulldoze New York and take us backward, we need someone in City Hall who knows how to hold the line and deliver under pressure,” Ramos said. This endorsement was not a withdrawal from the race; Ramos confirmed she would remain on the ballot and continue her campaign, though it was an implicit acknowledgment of her limited chances of winning.
Ramos’s decision has sent ripples through the progressive camp. She chairs the state Senate’s labor committee and had hoped to secure union support, but most major unions have thrown their backing behind Cuomo since he entered the race in March 2025. Her campaign struggled to gain traction, polling in the single digits and operating on a shoestring budget of just $9,000, according to recent filings. She also failed to qualify for the upcoming NY1 debate, scheduled for June 5, 2025.
The endorsement also highlights the strategic dynamics of the ranked-choice voting system employed in the Democratic primary. Voters can rank up to five candidates, and cross-endorsements can influence the distribution of votes. Ramos’s backing of Cuomo is one of the first signs of collaboration in a field that includes several progressive candidates who have mostly refrained from attacking each other, instead urging supporters to rank fellow liberals to defeat Cuomo.
Ramos’s alliance with Cuomo comes just two days after a heated debate on June 4, 2025, where both candidates were among nine Democrats sparring on issues ranging from housing to public safety. During that debate, Ramos did not shy away from criticizing her other opponent, Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who has surged to second place in the polls. Without naming him directly, Ramos remarked, “I thought I needed more experience, but turns out you just need to make good videos,” a pointed jab at Mamdani’s social media popularity.
The timing of Ramos’s endorsement is particularly notable given the recent endorsement of Mamdani by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who ranked five candidates but omitted Ramos from her slate. The left-leaning Working Families Party initially excluded Ramos from its April 2025 endorsements and only added her to its ranked list in fifth place in May. The party expressed disappointment over Ramos’s endorsement of Cuomo, with a spokesperson stating, “We are sad and disappointed that State Sen. Jessica Ramos has decided to endorse the candidate favored by Trump’s billionaire donors. But we won’t be distracted by this desperate move.”
Cuomo, who maintains a commanding lead in the polls, welcomed Ramos’s support. In a statement, he called her a “fighter for working New Yorkers” and expressed eagerness to collaborate on major campaign promises, including the approval of a $20 minimum wage for the city. Cuomo and Ramos share Queens roots, and Cuomo praised their shared “Queens attitude” as “both tough and protective of their families and neighbors and by extension all New Yorkers.”
Ramos’s reversal is remarkable considering her vocal opposition to Cuomo’s past actions. In December 2024, she branded him “a remorseless bully who sexually harassed all those women, covered up the deaths of all those grandparents, and didn’t sell all those books,” referencing both the sexual harassment scandal and Cuomo’s controversial handling of nursing home deaths during the pandemic, which remains under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Cuomo has consistently denied the allegations and dismissed investigations as politically motivated.
Her endorsement could help soften some voter reservations about Cuomo, particularly among women wary of his past misconduct. Ramos was among the first lawmakers to call for his resignation in 2021 following multiple sexual harassment allegations. Her backing might sway some of these voters, especially as Cuomo’s strongest polling support comes from women.
Despite the political theater, Ramos insists her decision is grounded in pragmatism. “This year’s race has really come down to two candidates,” she said, referring to Cuomo and Mamdani. “Only one of them has experience, toughness and the knowledge to lead New York through what’s about to come. And that’s Andrew Cuomo.” She acknowledged the difficulty of her choice, saying, “It wasn’t an easy decision, for all the reasons you already know. But it’s a responsible decision.”
As the June 24 Democratic primary approaches, early voting begins on June 14, the race is shaping up to be a battle not only of policies but also of strategic alliances and voter coalitions. Cuomo’s alliance with Ramos may fortify his position against other progressive challengers, while the rest of the field grapples with how to consolidate support under the ranked-choice system.
Ramos remains committed to pushing progressive priorities, stating she will continue advocating for “higher wages, more housing, and a stronger voice for working people.” Yet, her endorsement of Cuomo signals a shift in the mayoral contest, blending old rivalries with new political realities in one of the nation’s most consequential elections.
