In a moment dripping with irony, NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo found himself reporting live on the crushing defeat of his own brother, Andrew Cuomo, in the New York City mayoral race.
The New York Post reported that on election night, the former CNN host was at the helm of NewsNation’s coverage when the race was called for Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani over independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Chris, who had steered clear of covering his brother’s campaign in the lead-up to the election, had no choice but to face the music as the results rolled in.
It’s a tough spot for any journalist, let alone one with such a personal stake. And yet, the optics of a family tie clashing with professional duty couldn’t be more glaring.
Andrew Cuomo, once a towering figure in New York politics, threw his hat into the ring as an independent, hoping to reclaim some of his past glory.
But the city’s voters had other plans, opting for Mamdani, a candidate whose progressive agenda leans hard into the kind of policies many conservatives view with skepticism.
Early returns during the vote count showed Mamdani leading with 52% to Andrew Cuomo’s 40%, with just 35% of votes reported. That gap, while not final, hinted at the uphill battle Andrew faced in a city that often defaults to Democratic candidates.
The final tally confirmed the outcome: Mamdani clinched victory with 50.4% of the vote, while Andrew Cuomo garnered 41.6%, and Republican Curtis Sliwa trailed far behind at 7.1%. For a former governor with name recognition, that’s a bitter pill to swallow.
While Mamdani celebrated his win at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater, Andrew Cuomo was left to address supporters at his own election night rally. The contrast couldn’t be starker—one side basking in victory, the other grappling with a stinging loss.
Back at NewsNation, Chris Cuomo didn’t shy away from the personal angle, though he kept his commentary grounded in analysis. “Of course I wanted my brother to win,” he admitted on air, a statement that humanizes the moment but also underscores the awkward tightrope he walked.
“I believe in my brother. I think he’s a tremendous operator within government,” Chris continued, before adding a sobering note: “But he’s not what Democrats want right now in their party.” That’s a fair assessment, though one wonders if Democrats are chasing trends over proven leadership.
Chris Cuomo’s take on the broader political landscape also raised eyebrows. “And Democrats win in New York City … I mean, that’s the one-line analysis, the Democrat was gonna win in New York City,” he said during the broadcast. Hard to argue with that, but it’s a reminder of how one-party dominance can stifle real debate.
The victory of a Democratic socialist like Mamdani signals a shift toward policies that many on the right see as fiscally reckless and culturally divisive. While respecting the voters’ choice, it’s worth asking if this direction will address the city’s pressing issues or simply double down on progressive experiments.
For Andrew Cuomo, this loss marks a significant setback in a career already marred by past controversies. Running as an independent was always a long shot in a city so heavily tilted toward Democrats, but the margin of defeat stings nonetheless.
Chris Cuomo’s handling of the situation, though, deserves a nod for professionalism under pressure. Reporting on a sibling’s public defeat can’t be easy, yet he managed to keep the focus on the facts while acknowledging his personal connection.
Still, this election outcome raises bigger questions about the direction of urban politics and whether moderate voices like Andrew Cuomo’s have any place in today’s polarized landscape. For conservatives, Mamdani’s win might feel like another step toward a progressive overreach that prioritizes ideology over practicality.
