What Happened to Andrew Mark Cuomo?

Andrew Mark Cuomo's political career, marked by a rapid ascent and a dramatic fall, has seen him serve in prominent roles from U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to a three-term Governor of New York. His governorship (2011-2021) was characterized by significant legislative achievements, including the legalization of same-sex marriage, the NY SAFE Act on gun control, and major infrastructure projects. He gained national prominence for his daily televised briefings during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a lucrative $5.1 million book deal for his memoir, 'American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic'.

However, Cuomo's political standing began to unravel in late 2020 and early 2021. His administration faced intense scrutiny for allegedly undercounting COVID-19-related deaths in New York's nursing homes, with a January 2021 report from Attorney General Letitia James finding an undercount of up to 50%. Simultaneously, multiple women, many of whom were former aides, came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct. An independent investigation commissioned by Attorney General James concluded in August 2021 that Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 women and retaliated against some accusers. These findings led to widespread calls for his resignation, including from President Joe Biden, and the initiation of an impeachment investigation by the New York State Assembly.

Facing near-certain impeachment and removal, Cuomo resigned on August 23, 2021, maintaining his innocence and attributing the situation to a 'political and media stampede'. His resignation triggered a series of legal and ethical battles. The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) ordered him to repay the $5.1 million from his book deal, citing his improper use of state resources and personnel to produce the memoir. Cuomo challenged this order, and a New York judge later ruled in his favor, with JCOPE subsequently being disbanded. While several district attorneys closed criminal investigations into the sexual harassment claims without charges, a forcible touching charge filed in Albany County was eventually dropped in 2022.

In his post-gubernatorial career, Cuomo has sought to re-enter the political arena. He launched a campaign for Mayor of New York City in 2025, running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani. Despite significant name recognition and financial backing, he ultimately lost the general election to Mamdani. As of August 2026, Cuomo continues to be active in the private sector, notably joining the advisory board of Nano Nuclear Energy in 2024 and receiving substantial stock options. He also maintains a public profile through political commentary, often criticizing the direction of the Democratic Party, as evidenced by his social media posts in August 2026. He has also made public appearances, such as attending the premiere of a film about his father's life at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2026. While legally unable to run for New York Governor in 2026 due to term limits without a constitutional amendment, speculation about his future political ambitions, possibly for other statewide or national offices, persists.