Bloomberg pours more cash into Cuomo super PAC, bringing his total contribution to $8.3M
NEW YORK — Mike Bloomberg's vast wealth is continuing to power Andrew Cuomo's front-running mayoral bid.
The billionaire former mayor contributed $3.3 million to a super PAC supporting Cuomo's attempted comeback in the nation's largest city — a donation made public on Wednesday that comes just days after Bloomberg gave $5 million to the group.
With the latest gift, Bloomberg is now single-handedly responsible for one-third of the PAC's total haul of $24 million since it launched in March, according to a POLITICO analysis. Other real estate and finance executives who make up New York's monied elite, including billionaire Donald Trump supporter Bill Ackman, have poured cash into the group.
A spokesperson for the super PAC, which is called Fix the City, did not comment on Bloomberg's latest contribution.
The money — and the flood of mailers and TV ads funded by it — indicate Cuomo supporters are nervous about the rise of his principal opponent, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani. The state lawmaker has been running a strong second to the ex-governor in most polls; a Marist College survey on Wednesday found Cuomo would defeat Mamdani after seven rounds of ranked-choice voting, 55 percent to 45 percent. But early voting is high in some neighborhoods that would appear to benefit Mamdani, and temperatures are expected to hit 100 degrees next Tuesday, which could suppress turnout among older New Yorkers Cuomo is counting on.
Likely motivating Bloomberg, who had a rivalry with the former governor during their overlapping tenures, are Mamdani's far-left politics and criticism of Israel. He wants to raise taxes on the rich to pay for services like free bus fare and as recently as this week, refused to criticize the phrase 'globalize the Intifada,' calling it an expression of Palestinian rights.
The former mayor endorsed Cuomo last week, and called him the 'one candidate whose management experience and government know-how stand above the others.' Cuomo is 67 and worked in and around government and politics his entire career; Mamdani is 33 and counters criticisms of his thin résumé with reminders of the scandals that drove Cuomo from office.
The super PAC has been a significant source of support for the ex-governor, who is considered the favorite to win next Tuesday's Democratic primary despite tightening polls. The group has spent more than $14.8 million on TV ads — including a $5.4 million spot slamming Mamdani — according to media tracking firm AdImpact.
The super PAC, which is subject to higher ad rates than campaigns, has easily outspent Cuomo's rivals and is the best-funded PAC ever to play a role in municipal elections in New York City.
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