Governor Ron DeSantis — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Julie Hansen
New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo was the target of a special request from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after the former Democratic governor made a joke about moving to the Sunshine State if he lost to socialist Zohran Mamdani.
Many people seemed alarmed by Cuomo’s joke and rushed to social media to voice their disapproval of it. In response to a story about Cuomo contemplating a change of scenery in the event that he is defeated by Mamdani once more, DeSantis, a Republican, was one of many who voiced concerns.
“Don’t New York our Florida!” X is where DeSantis posted.
According to DeSantis, if Democratic socialist contender Mamdani wins the New York City mayoral election this November, Palm Beach real estate values will “skyrocket” as a result of New Yorkers relocating there. “If this socialist mayor candidate wins in New York City, you’re going to see real estate values skyrocket in Palm Beach because people are going to get out of that city,” DeSantis stated just before the June primary election.
When Cuomo announced on Saturday that he will relocate to Florida, it seemed like he was kidding.
Despite losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, the former governor of New York intends to run against him in the general election as an independent. The statement, which was made during a breakfast with political insiders in the Hamptons, made many giggle but also brought attention to the rising uneasiness about the city’s political trajectory.
“Everything or nothing. Either we win, or I’ll relocate to Florida. Cuomo exclaimed, “God forbid,” according to some who attended the gathering.
The statement was made at a private party at Southampton’s 75 Main, which was hosted by businessman John Catsimatidis. The Gristedes and D’Agostino supermarket chains, which Catsimatidis, a GOP donor and radio presenter, owns, may be directly impacted by Mamdani’s plan to establish government-run grocery stores.
Melissa DeRosa, a former top Cuomo assistant, and Ambassador George Tsunis were among the guests. The line was called a “wow” moment by one of the attendees. Several visitors reported that it attracted attention in the room.
Rich Azzopardi, Cuomo’s senior assistant, defended the remark in an interview with the New York Post.
“Governor Cuomo would never give up on New York,” he stated. “The line underscored the stakes in this election and the risk of electing a dangerously inexperienced, hate-spewing 33-year-old socialist to lead the city.”
Traditionally, the victor of the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City is seen as the clear favorite in the general election.
According to a few surveys taken in New York City this month, Mamdani is leading the campaign, but he is by no means a clear winner. According to the surveys, Mamdani is ahead of Cuomo by ranging from three to fifteen points.
Mamdani and Cuomo are ahead in the polls, followed by Guardian Angels co-founder Curtis Sliwa, the Republican mayoral nominee for the second consecutive year, and Mayor Eric Adams, the troubled incumbent who said earlier this year that he would run for reelection as an independent.
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Mike has more than 30 years of experience in marketing and public relations. He once owned his own agency and has worked with some of the largest brands in the world.