The Rev. Al Sharpton suggested Wednesday that it would be in former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's (D) and New Yorkers' best interests if he would remove his name from the mayoral ballot this fall.
Cuomo lost New York City's Democratic mayoral primary to state Assembly member Zohran Mamdani and conceded last week, but CNN reported that Cuomo planned to keep his spot as the Fight and Deliver candidate on the November ballot.
Mayor Eric Adams (D), who is seeking reelection as an independent, will also be on the ballot as the main opponent to Mamdani's campaign.
"I think, in the best interest of the legacy of Andrew Cuomo, that he ought to let them have the one-on-one race," Sharpton, a New York City native who is backing Mamdani, said Wednesday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "[Cuomo] can endorse one or the other, and let them have a battle over what is best for New York."
Cuomo isn't expected to continue to actively campaign for the job, but campaign spokesperson Rich Azzopardi told The Hill that the former governor is still weighing whether to keep his name on the list as an option for voters.
"Everyone is entitled to their own political opinion — we understand President Trump supports Eric Adams, and do not believe socialism is the answer," Azzopardi said in a statement. "Most New Yorkers are not Trumpers, and most New Yorkers are not socialists — the majority lies in the middle."
"We will continue to assess the current situation in the best interest of the people of the City of New York," he added.
Mamdani, 33, is a self-described democratic socialist, and his proposals to make the city more affordable have prompted critics to accuse him of trying to advance socialism.
Adams, who did not seek the Democratic nomination after facing bribery charges, formally launched his independent bid for reelection Thursday.