Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers has joined a growing list of elected Queens Democrats to throw their weight behind former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the upcoming mayoral election.
Brooks-Powers, who represents the 31st Council District, including parts of Far Rockaway, Laurelton, and Rosedale, touted Cuomo’s experience as governor as a key reason for her endorsement, stating that Cuomo has proven that he knows how to “marshal resources.”
“New Yorkers—especially in the 31st Council District—are asking for leadership that prioritizes real issues: fixing NYCHA, protecting homeowners, improving healthcare access, and strengthening our communities from the ground up,” Brooks-Powers said in a statement announcing her endorsement.
“Andrew Cuomo has shown he knows how to marshal resources, cut through bureaucracy, and deliver for working families.”
Brooks-Powers said she held “deep conversations” with local clergy, community leaders and neighbors before deciding on her endorsement ahead of the Democratic primary on June 24, describing Cuomo as the “right choice” for the Democratic nominee.
“I urge you to join me in voting for Andrew Cuomo—a leader who puts people first and knows how to make government work for all New Yorkers.”
The Democratic Organization of Queens County and its chairman, U.S. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, endorsed Cuomo in a major win for the former governor’s campaign, while State senators Joseph P. Addabbo and Toby Ann Stavisky, Assembly Members David Weprin and Edward Braunstein, and Council Member Lynn Schulman all officially endorsed at the beginning of the month.
They cited the former governor’s record during the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. They also touted Cuomo’s performance on issues such as marriage equality, abortion rights, and public safety.
Assembly Members Stacey Pheffer Amato, Vivian Cook, and Sam Berger have also officially endorsed Cuomo. A coalition of black elected officials, including State Sen. James Sanders, has urged voters to rank Cuomo first and Council Member Adrienne Adams second in the upcoming vote.
Assembly Members Clyde Vanel and Alicia Hyndman joined Sanders to officially endorse Cuomo on April 2, again citing his experience managing a bureaucracy and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other major crises.
The Queens endorsements give Cuomo’s campaign a significant boost and deal a significant blow to several of his Queens-based competitors, including Council Member Adams, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, and State Sen. Jessica Ramos.
Sanders, who attended Speaker Adams’ campaign launch last month, cited Cuomo’s experience as governor as a key reason for his endorsement.
Sanders is part of a coalition of black elected officials that recently announced its endorsement of Cuomo and urged voters to rank Adams as their second choice.
State Sen. Leroy Comrie, Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson and Council Member Nantasha Williams broke with the coalition to endorse Council Member Adams.
Adams and Mamdani did, however, pick up an endorsement from the Working Families Party at the end of March alongside City Comptroller Brad Lander and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie.
Cuomo, a self-described “Queens boy,” has been the clear frontrunner in the mayoral race since entering it at the end of February.
However, the former governor, who resigned in 2021 following a series of sexual harassment allegations, which he has consistently denied, saw his campaign hit a speedbump Tuesday after the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) declined to reward him with the millions of dollars he expected to receive in public matching funds.
The CFB voted to deny Cuomo the funds because at least 20% of the paperwork his campaign filed had technical errors, and his campaign did not meet the threshold of eligible donations.
Cuomo campaign spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said those issues stemmed from a “technical software error.” The campaign had anticipated that the board would reward it roughly $2.7 million in public funds after raising around $1.5 million between the beginning and middle of March.
Mamdani, meanwhile, has received close to $4 million in public funds as part of the city’s 8:1 public financing program, which incentivizes candidates to appeal to New York City residents by matching donations made by people living in the city.
Mamdani leads the race in terms of fundraising in the mayoral race and has already hit the $8.3 million ceiling that it can spend during the election. Mamdani has announced plans to stop collecting private donations until after the June 24 primary.
