Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo gained more support from prominent clergy leaders as he continues to lead in the 2025 NYC Mayor’s race, his campaign team announced on Easter Sunday.
On April 20, Cuomo received endorsements from 20 prominent Black and Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) clergy members, all of whom his team said “represent culturally rich and spiritually devoted” congregations in NYC.
The major endorsements follow the mayoral contender’s visit to Calvary Baptist Church on Easter Sunday and Rev. Dr. Kevin R. Johnson’s first mayoral endorsement since presiding over the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem.
Other new clergy member supporters include Shaorong Luo, an Influential Buddhist and Feng Shui Master; Yi Zhao of the Western Buddhist Association; Imam Maaz Ali of IQRA Masjid; and Bishop Carl Wauchope of Emmanuel Baptist Church.
“We are proud to stand with Governor Cuomo, someone who has a long record of actually delivering results and someone we can trust to get the job done as our next mayor,” the clergy members said in a joint statement. “Andrew Cuomo has long been a friend and true partner to our communities, governing with a compassionate touch and a fierce urgency for action. From building new affordable housing, combating homelessness to protecting immigrants and helping those less fortunate, he is someone who doesn’t just talk about fixing problems but actually solves them.”
The endorsers also said Cuomo will “fight back” against recent and looming federal changes that have affected NYC in various ways. Although they did not cite specific examples, some of these changes could include funding cuts to nonprofits and the Trump administration’s clawback of millions of dollars of Congressionally allocated aid for migrants in NYC.
“As New York City faces unprecedented challenges and an assault from the Trump administration, we know Governor Cuomo will again stand up, fight back, and is ready to bring that same strong leadership rooted in justice for all,” the faith leaders continued in their statement. “He is the man for this moment, and we enthusiastically endorse his candidacy.”
Cuomo said in a statement that he appreciates the endorsements he received since entering the race for Gracie Mansion on March 1.
“I’ve been humbled by the depth and breadth of the outpouring of support we’ve received upon entering this race,” Cuomo said in a statement.
Other recent political endorsements for Cuomo include Rep. Ritchie Torres, Democratic Organization of Queens County, and Chairman Rep. Gregory Meeks, NYS Senators Joseph Addabbo, Jr., and James Sanders, Jr., Brooklyn Democratic Chair and NYS Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, and NYS Assembly Member Charles Fall.
Cuomo has taken the lead and continues to garner endorsements despite being in the mayoral race for less than two months.
His bid for NYC’s top spot comes after a break from politics following his resignation as governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment accusations, which he has denied.
