Wait, didn't we just do this? Seriously. If you feel like you’ve been watching the same political rerun for three years, you aren't alone. The question of whether Andrew Cuomo will drop out has haunted New York headlines since he hitched a ride out of Albany in 2021. But now that we’ve hit January 2026, the noise is hitting a different frequency.
He didn't drop out of the 2025 mayoral race. He lost it. That’s a big distinction.
👉 See also: U.S. Citizens Detained by ICE: Why the System Keeps Getting it Wrong
Right now, the "Cuomo comeback" is less of a soaring plane and more of a glider looking for a thermal. After Zohran Mamdani took the oath of office as New York City Mayor on January 1, 2026, the air went out of the room for the Cuomo camp. But the rumors of him dropping out of public life entirely? Those are probably premature. Cuomo doesn't just go home and knit.
The 2025 Mayoral Post-Mortem
Let’s look at the wreckage. To understand if he's "dropping out" of future contention, you have to see why he fell short last November. Cuomo ran as an independent on the "Fight and Deliver" line. He basically bet the house that New Yorkers wanted a "tough dad" figure to fix the chaos.
He was wrong.
Mamdani didn't just win; he dominated the youth vote. Cuomo pulled about 41% of the general election vote, which, honestly, is impressive for a guy with that much baggage. But 41% doesn't get you the keys to City Hall. Since that loss, the chatter hasn't been about whether he'll drop out of a race—he’s not currently in one—but whether he’ll drop out of the 2026 gubernatorial conversation.
Why the 2026 Governor's Race is the New Target
People are already whispering about the June 2026 primary. Governor Kathy Hochul is looking at a potentially brutal reelection cycle. If Cuomo is going to "drop out" of the spotlight, he'd have done it by now. Instead, his top strategist, Rich Azzopardi, has been spotted all over Albany lately.
- The Funding: Cuomo still has a war chest that would make most candidates weep.
- The Base: He still crushes it with older voters in the outer boroughs and suburban Democrats.
- The Ego: You don't spend forty years in the family business just to end on a "loss" to a socialist assemblyman.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Dropout Rumors
There's this idea that the sexual harassment scandals or the nursing home data controversies would eventually force him to drop out for good. It’s a logical thought. In most states, that would be true. But New York is weird.
Cuomo’s strategy has always been "exhaustion." He waits for the public to get tired of being mad. If you're asking if he will drop out because of "shame," the answer is a hard no. He spent most of late 2025 telling anyone who would listen that the investigations were a political hit job. He hasn't moved an inch on that.
🔗 Read more: Is Tren de Aragua in North Carolina? What Local Law Enforcement Actually Says
Honestly, the only thing that would make Andrew Cuomo drop out of a future race is a lack of a path. Right now, the path to the Governor’s mansion is blocked by a very crowded field.
The Ritchie Torres Factor
Keep an eye on Congressman Ritchie Torres. There’s a lot of talk that Torres might jump into the 2026 gubernatorial primary. If Torres runs, he occupies a lot of the same "pro-development, tough on crime" space that Cuomo wants. If the lane gets too narrow, that’s when you might see a quiet "Cuomo drops out" press release on a Friday night in April.
Is He Running for Congress Instead?
There was a weird rumor floating around last month about New York’s 1st Congressional District. Some folks think Cuomo might try to pull a "carpetbagger" move and run for a House seat. It sounds crazy, but at this point, nothing is off the table.
However, moving from the Governor's mansion to a freshman seat in the House is a massive ego hit. Most insiders think he’d rather stay on the sidelines than be one of 435 people fighting for floor time.
The Reality of 2026
If you’re looking for a definitive "yes" or "no" on whether he'll drop out of the political sphere, you have to look at the polling coming out this spring. If he’s polling at 10% in a primary matchup against Hochul and Tish James, he won’t run. He won't risk a third consecutive loss (after the 2021 resignation and the 2025 mayoral defeat).
But if Hochul’s numbers keep sliding?
He's in.
Actionable Next Steps for Following the Cuomo Saga
Don't just wait for the big CNN alert. If you want to know what he’s actually doing, watch these three things:
🔗 Read more: Detroit Gun Violence: What the Headlines Miss About Shooting Today in Detroit
- Watch the NY State Board of Elections Filings: Look at his campaign account (Friends of Andrew Cuomo). If he starts spending heavily on "consulting" in February, he's gearing up for a June primary run.
- Monitor the Union Endorsements: Cuomo basically lives for union support. If the building trades start distancing themselves from Hochul, they're looking for a backup.
- Check his "Cuomo Matters" Podcast: It sounds silly, but he uses that platform to test-fire his attack lines. If he starts hammering the "state of the state" in Albany, he's running.
The guy is 68. He's got time for one more act, but the window is closing fast. Whether he drops out or doubles down will depend entirely on how much New Yorkers are willing to forgive—or forget—by the time the leaves turn green this spring.