Supporters of ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo “are spreading the word” that he is running for mayor, sources say — as the Adams administration faces mounting investigations.
The CEO of a prominent investment banking firm has told other corporate honchos — who donate to campaigns — that the fallen ex-governor will make a comeback bid for New York City mayor next year, according to a business community insider.
“His agents are spreading the word. They’re spreading the word that Cuomo is running,” the source briefed on the discussions said of the banking exec.
The Cuomo for mayor push comes as Adams’ popularity has plummeted amid several federal corruption probes that triggered the resignation of his police commissioner Edward Caban and his chief counsel, Lisa Zornberg, a former federal prosecutor, to suddenly step down over the weekend.
Former aides and allies talking up a potential Cuomo candidacy include his ex-righthand Melissa DeRosa.
DeRosa, during a Forbes interview posted Monday, said her phone was “ringing off the hook” about a Cuomo run.
“What people are saying is, ‘he’s got to run, he’s got to run.”
But longtime associate Steve Cohen, a former federal prosecutor, told The Post “absolutely not” when asked if he was informing associates that Cuomo was running.
And a source close to Bill Mulrow a Blackstone executive who was chairman of Cuomo’s 2018 re-election campaign, also said he wasn’t telling people the ex-gov is running.
A “lot of other people are encouraging [Cuomo] to run,” the source added.
Cuomo resigned in disgrace in August 2021 amid a slew of sexual misconduct allegations and the controversy over penning a controversial profit-making book deal about the COVID-19 pandemic.
He denied any wrongdoing but faced impeachment proceedings if he didn’t step down.
He would join a growing field in a Democratic primary including Queens state Sen. Jessica Ramos, a former aide to ex-mayor Bill de Blasio; Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, city Comptroller Brad Lander and former Comptroller Scott Stringer as challengers to Adams.
Cuomo would be just the latest scandal-scarred politician to attempt a comeback.
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Ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who resigned in a hooker scandal, lost in a comeback bid for city comptroller in 2013.
Ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner, who resigned from Congress in a sexting scandal, also flamed out in his comeback bid for mayor in 2013, finishing fifth as more revelations about his tawdry behavior surfaced.
Cuomo was roasted by the House panel on the COVID-19 pandemic over his decision of allowing recovered COVID patients to be admitted in nursing homes.
He defended the decision.
During the Forbes interview, DeRosa said, “[Cuomo] still maintains a massive well of support from New York City and New York City voters despite how the administration ended.”
“That’s a decision he has to make with his family,” said DeRosa, who served as secretary to the governor, his top aide, during his final years in office, said of a run for mayor.
DeRosa indicated Tuesday she’s not telling people that Cuomo is definitely running for City Hall and in the Forbes interview, noted that he has a good relationship with Adams.
Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi responded, “The governor previously said he has no plans to make plans and nothing has changed.”
Andrew’s father, Mario, ran for mayor in 1977, losing in a tight race to Ed Koch.
Cuomo has tapped remaining campaign funds on polling to weigh a political comeback, The Post previously reported.
