Ramos about-face on Cuomo draws immediate scorn from progressives she once championed

Progressive mayoral candidate and state Sen. Jessica Ramos endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for mayor on Friday in a surprise about-face that drew immediate scorn from left-leaning Democrats in New York City.

“I looked at the field, I see people I respect, I see energy and ideas,” Ramos, who represents Queens, said alongside Cuomo at a campaign event in Manhattan. “But we need much more than performative politics. … We need experience.”

While she didn’t cite anyone by name, her criticism appears to be directed at candidate and state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who has captured significant momentum as the Democratic primary heads into the final weeks of campaigning.

But Ramos until recently was among Cuomo’s biggest critics. She was one of the first lawmakers to call for him to resign in 2021 following multiple women’s sexual harassment allegations, which he has long denied.

In March she said she was a “hard pass” on Cuomo, calling his campaign a “vanity tour,” citing the dozen or so women who have accused him of sexual harassment, and accusing him of being a “corrupt bully.”

And as recently as this week Ramos went after Cuomo again over the sexual harassment allegations.

The turnabout did not go unnoticed by her former allies.

“I’ve always respected her for the work she’s done for our city and state,” City Councilmember Chi Ossé posted on X. “To see her throw [all of] her values away and betray the NYers she’s been fighting for is heartbreaking and disgusting. Hurt by this one.”

Actress Cynthia Nixon, who challenged then-Gov. Cuomo in 2018 from the left, lamented Ramos’ decision.

“I’m choosing to remember the Jessica Ramos who ran to break up the IDC, supported the women who were sexually harassed, remembered the people Cuomo sent to die in nursing homes & always called out Cuomo’s corruption, mismanagement & lies. I’ll miss that Ramos, where did she go?” Nixon posted on X, referring to the centrist Independent Democratic Conference, which caucused with Republicans and was often allied with Cuomo.

The left-leaning Working Families Party, which included Ramos fifth on its slate of candidate endorsements last week, said in a statement that it was “sad and disappointed” but would not be “distracted” by her “desperate move.” The party has endorsed Mamdani as its first choice, followed by city Comptroller Brad Lander, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, and state Sen. Zellnor Myrie as part of a “Don’t Rank Cuomo” strategy.

Other progressive candidates have mostly refrained from criticizing each other and urged their supporters to rank their fellow liberal Democrats in hopes of defeating Cuomo.

The Ramos campaign has struggled to gain traction, and she has been among the lowest-polling and lowest-fundraising candidates in the crowded Democratic field.

A spokesperson for Ramos’ campaign said she is not dropping out of the race ahead of the June 24 Democratic primary. Cuomo has been garnering support from various unions in his mayoral bid, and Ramos chairs the state Senate’s labor committee.

Despite their contentious history, Cuomo praised Ramos as an “extraordinary leader” and “true progressive” during the campaign event.

But he later told reporters, “She is endorsing me. I am not endorsing her.”

Ramos said in an interview with the New York Times that Cuomo was the “best positioned right now to protect this city” from any undermining by President Donald Trump, who, like she and Cuomo, hails from Queens. Ramos represents neighborhoods including Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst and Corona.

At Friday’s event, she said her endorsement of the former governor “wasn’t an easy decision … but it’s a responsible decision.”

Early voting in the primary starts June 14, and Primary Day is on June 24.

This story has been updated with additional information.