New York politics is never exactly quiet, but the saga of the former governor of NY Cuomo—Andrew, that is—feels like it was ripped from a prestige TV script that hasn't quite reached the series finale yet. It’s early 2026 now. If you’ve been following the headlines, you know that the "Cuomo" name hasn't exactly faded into the background like a typical retired politician’s would.
Instead of playing golf or writing quiet memoirs, Andrew Cuomo spent much of 2025 trying to pull off one of the most audacious political second acts in American history. He ran for Mayor of New York City. Yeah, you read that right. After resigning in disgrace in 2021, he actually tried to take the keys to Gracie Mansion. He lost the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani in a massive upset, then took a swing as an independent in the general election, but the comeback stalled.
Why are we still talking about him? Because you can’t understand the current state of the Empire State without looking at the vacuum he left behind and the shadow he still casts over Albany.
The Rise and the Emmy-Winning Briefings
To understand the fall, you've gotta remember the peak. In 2020, Andrew Cuomo was basically the "National Governor." While the federal government was scrambling, Cuomo’s daily 11 a.m. briefings became appointment viewing. He had the PowerPoint slides, the "Mount Cuomo" charts, and that deep, gravelly voice of authority. He even won an International Emmy for them. Seriously.
People were calling themselves "Cuomosexuals." It sounds cringe now, but at the time, his approval ratings were astronomical. He was the tough-talking New Yorker who was going to lead us through the plague. He wrote a book about leadership while the pandemic was still actually happening—a move that would eventually come back to haunt him during the various investigations.
The Turning Tide
The cracks started showing in early 2021. It wasn't just one thing; it was a pile-on of scandals that hit all at once. First, it was the nursing homes. Then, it was the allegations of a toxic, "sexually hostile" work environment.
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What Really Happened With the Nursing Home Scandal?
This is the part that still makes people's blood boil. Basically, the Cuomo administration was accused of undercounting COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes to make the state’s response look better.
For a long time, the official line was that about 6,000 nursing home residents had died. But a bombshell report from Attorney General Letitia James in January 2021 revealed the number was actually much higher—closer to 15,000. The administration had been excluding residents who died in hospitals, even if they caught the virus in a nursing home.
By late 2024 and throughout 2025, more documents surfaced via congressional investigations. The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic released memos suggesting Cuomo himself had a hand in editing reports to deflect blame. It wasn't just a clerical error; it looked like a coordinated PR move. They essentially blamed the nursing home staff for the deaths, while the staff argued they were just following Cuomo’s own mandate to accept COVID-positive patients back into the facilities.
The Sexual Harassment Investigation
Then came the allegations. It started with Lindsey Boylan and Charlotte Bennett. Then more women came forward. By the time Letitia James released her final report in August 2021, 11 women had made credible accusations of harassment.
We’re talking about:
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- Unwanted groping and kissing.
- Inappropriate comments about their sex lives.
- A general culture of fear and retaliation.
Cuomo denied the most serious allegations, often chalking it up to "generational differences" in how people interact. He basically said he’s just a "touchy" guy. But the report was devastating. It described a "sexually hostile work environment" where senior staff protected the Governor rather than the employees.
Even as recently as 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice chimed in. They reached a settlement with the New York Executive Chamber (now under Governor Kathy Hochul) to fix the "systemic" issues that allowed Cuomo’s behavior to go unchecked for years.
The 2025 Mayoral Bid: A Failed Comeback
If you thought a resignation and a dozen investigations would stop him, you don't know the Cuomos. Andrew spent three years in a sort of "political exile," but he was never really gone. He spent millions from his campaign chest on ads attacking his accusers and the "Albany machine."
In March 2025, he officially jumped into the NYC Mayoral race. Honestly, for a minute there, it looked like he might win. He was leading the polls early on because people were frustrated with crime and the high cost of living, and they remembered him as a "guy who gets things done."
But the "Cuomo fatigue" was real. Young voters and the progressive wing of the party, led by figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, rallied behind Zohran Mamdani. Cuomo tried to pivot to a "tech-forward" platform late in the race—proposing a Chief Innovation Officer and courting the crypto crowd—but it felt like a Hail Mary. He lost the primary, ran as an independent, and ultimately got squeezed out.
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Why the "Governor of NY Cuomo" Keywords Still Trend
People are still searching for him because the legal battles aren't over. While criminal charges in Albany and elsewhere were eventually dropped or dismissed due to "insufficient evidence" for a criminal conviction, the civil lawsuits are a different story.
He’s still fighting cases from former aides. Taxpayers have already shelled out millions for his legal defense. Every time a new court date pops up, the "Governor of NY Cuomo" searches spike. People want to know if he’s finally going to face a "smoking gun" or if he’ll just keep litigating until everyone gets tired of hearing his name.
Where is he now?
As of today, Andrew Cuomo is mostly a private citizen with a very loud megaphone. He’s still "hanging around the basket," as some political consultants put it. There’s always talk of him running for his old seat in the 2026 gubernatorial primary against Kathy Hochul, though most insiders think that’s a bridge too far even for him.
Actionable Insights: Navigating the Cuomo Legacy
If you’re a New Yorker or just someone interested in how power works, here’s what you should actually take away from the Cuomo era:
- Scrutinize the Data: The nursing home scandal proved that government-provided data isn't always the full picture. Always look for independent audits or reports from the Attorney General’s office.
- Watch the Executive Chamber: Under Kathy Hochul, several reforms have been implemented to change the culture in Albany. If you're an employee in the public sector, know that the DOJ settlement in 2024 created new pathways for reporting harassment that didn't exist during the Cuomo years.
- The Power of Name Recognition: Cuomo’s 2025 mayoral run showed that name ID is a hell of a drug. Even with a mountain of baggage, a familiar name can keep a politician relevant long after they should have been disqualified.
- Follow the Money: Cuomo still has millions in his campaign account. That money allows him to buy ads, hire top-tier consultants like Rich Azzopardi, and keep himself in the conversation. As long as that war chest exists, he isn't going away.
The story of the governor of NY Cuomo is a masterclass in the exercise of power—and what happens when that power meets an immovable object like a statewide investigation. Whether you see him as a wronged leader or a bully who finally got his due, he’s a reminder that in New York, the political drama never really ends. It just changes seasons.
Keep an eye on the 2026 primary filings. If his name shows up on that ballot, we’re in for another wild ride.
Next Steps:
To stay informed on this evolving story, you should regularly check the New York State Board of Elections for new campaign finance disclosures. These filings will reveal exactly how Cuomo is spending his remaining millions and whether he's ramping up for another run. Additionally, follow the New York Attorney General’s press releases for updates on any remaining civil litigation regarding the 2021 harassment report.