Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg made a last-minute donation Wednesday in the city’s mayoral race, giving $1.5 million to a political action committee associated with former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“Being mayor of New York City is the second toughest job in America, and the next mayor will face immense challenges,” Bloomberg wrote to social media. “Andrew Cuomo has the experience and toughness to stand up for New Yorkers and get things done.”
Financial filings, which were first reported by The New York Times on Wednesday, show the funds went to a group associated with Cuomo called “Fix the City” that is responsible for a recent spate of anti-Zohran Mamdani advertising.
Bloomberg donated $8.3 million and endorsed Cuomo’s failed campaign for the Democratic nomination earlier this year, but until now has been silent after the primary.
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Mamdani in recent weeks has been riding a wave of progressive enthusiasm, selling out a 13,000-seat stadium for a rally over the weekend that included appearances by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The self-described democratic socialist has framed his campaign as a referendum on affordability, and is on track — if the polling holds — to become New York’s first Muslim mayor.
Bloomberg is reported to have met with Mamdani once after his primary win, and has a history of being at odds with Cuomo.
In addition to Bloomberg, Cuomo has also earned last-minute support from the current mayor, Eric Adams, who endorsed Cuomo on Thursday.
Early voting in New York started on Saturday, and nearly 225,000 ballots were cast as of Monday.
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