Mayor Eric Adams spoke at two Black churches in Queens and pushed back at those who “are dancing on my grave.”

© Dave Sanders for The New York Times

The American president’s foreign policy, and a divisive speech by his vice president, drew attention away from an attack by a refugee that some expected would fan political tensions over migration.

© Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has responded after a prominent ex-official endorsed him to run for mayor of New York City against incumbent first-termer Eric Adams. 

Former state comptroller Carl McCall, 89, released an open letter backing Cuomo on Saturday. Cuomo has not formally declared his candidacy in the race, though he is polling as the top potential challenger to Adams in June's primary.

In response to the letter, Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid scandals connected to COVID-19 nursing home deaths and sexual harassment claims, acknowledged the history that he and his family share with McCall. Cuomo has always denied the allegations against him. 

"Carl and I have a special bond that starts before me.  I first had the pleasure of meeting Carl when I was in my early 20s when he worked with my father, the late Mario Cuomo, as the state's human rights commissioner and together the two fought to make New York a fairer, more just place for all who live here." 

NEW YORK CITY TO SUE TRUMP ADMIN OVER REVOKED $80M IN FEMA MIGRANT SHELTER FUNDING FOR NEW YORK CITY

"In these divisive and troubling times, his voice is needed more than ever – for his is one of moral clarity, experience and guided by what is right for the people above all else," Cuomo wrote Saturday. 

"Today, in these uncertain times, and after more than four decades of friendship and counsel, I thank him for his faith in me and for his advice, trust and confidence," Cuomo said. "His sentiments are both humbling and deeply meaningful."

In his letter, McCall did not cite Adams by name, but he appeared to indirectly slam how the Justice Department on Friday asked a court to dismiss corruption charges against Adams that were filed during the Biden administration. Adams met with President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, last week, agreeing to work together as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cracks down on criminal illegal immigrants.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MOVES TO DROP CASE AGAINST NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS

"Donald Trump wants us to fail as a community. For that reason, the leadership of New York City has rarely, if ever, been as vital as it is today," McCall wrote. "The Mayor of New York must not only have the competence and capacity to manage the City’s real challenges, but the mayor must have the ability to defend our city and demonstrate a powerful counterbalance to President Trump. The people of New York cannot be represented by someone whose loyalty to the city is compromised — we deserve a Mayor of New York to be for New York." 

McCall, a Black elder statesman who once ran in a contentious gubernational primary against Cuomo in 2002, turned on Adams, who is New York City’s second Black mayor. McCall endorsed Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign. 

"I have never publicly urged a candidate to run for office. But I have never before felt it so necessary to use my voice," McCall wrote Saturday. "For these reasons, I urge Governor Andrew Cuomo to run for Mayor of the City of New York and I offer my full support."

"I’ve known Andrew for over 40 years. Some might be surprised that I am supporting Andrew so strongly and so early," the letter continued. "But despite how it is sometimes framed in the press, we were never political adversaries: twenty years ago, we were competing candidates who shared then and share now the same core values of what is right and wrong and sought to make New York a better place."

"More than anyone else, Andrew is the leader we need and the leader we deserve," McCall wrote. 

Despite still not having declared a mayoral bid, Cuomo released a campaign-style video on Valentine's Day, in which he told senior citizens, "I missed you," and declaring that "the strongest four-letter word is not hate, it’s love." 

Albany politicians have questioned Adams’ independence from Trump after the DOJ asked that the corruption charges be dropped, and some prosecutors resigned amid allegations of a quid pro quo agreement. 

In response, Adams said Friday on X, "I want to be crystal clear with New Yorkers: I never offered — nor did anyone offer on my behalf — any trade of my authority as your mayor for an end to my case. Never." 

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has responded after a prominent ex-official endorsed him to run for mayor of New York City against incumbent first-termer Eric Adams. 

Former state comptroller Carl McCall, 89, released an open letter backing Cuomo on Saturday. Cuomo has not formally declared his candidacy in the race, though he is polling as the top potential challenger to Adams in June's primary.

In response to the letter, Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid scandals connected to COVID-19 nursing home deaths and sexual harassment claims, acknowledged the history that he and his family share with McCall. Cuomo has always denied the allegations against him. 

"Carl and I have a special bond that starts before me.  I first had the pleasure of meeting Carl when I was in my early 20s when he worked with my father, the late Mario Cuomo, as the state's human rights commissioner and together the two fought to make New York a fairer, more just place for all who live here." 

NEW YORK CITY TO SUE TRUMP ADMIN OVER REVOKED $80M IN FEMA MIGRANT SHELTER FUNDING FOR NEW YORK CITY

"In these divisive and troubling times, his voice is needed more than ever – for his is one of moral clarity, experience and guided by what is right for the people above all else," Cuomo wrote Saturday. 

"Today, in these uncertain times, and after more than four decades of friendship and counsel, I thank him for his faith in me and for his advice, trust and confidence," Cuomo said. "His sentiments are both humbling and deeply meaningful."

In his letter, McCall did not cite Adams by name, but he appeared to indirectly slam how the Justice Department on Friday asked a court to dismiss corruption charges against Adams that were filed during the Biden administration. Adams met with President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, last week, agreeing to work together as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cracks down on criminal illegal immigrants.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MOVES TO DROP CASE AGAINST NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS

"Donald Trump wants us to fail as a community. For that reason, the leadership of New York City has rarely, if ever, been as vital as it is today," McCall wrote. "The Mayor of New York must not only have the competence and capacity to manage the City’s real challenges, but the mayor must have the ability to defend our city and demonstrate a powerful counterbalance to President Trump. The people of New York cannot be represented by someone whose loyalty to the city is compromised — we deserve a Mayor of New York to be for New York." 

McCall, a Black elder statesman who once ran in a contentious gubernational primary against Cuomo in 2002, turned on Adams, who is New York City’s second Black mayor. McCall endorsed Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign. 

"I have never publicly urged a candidate to run for office. But I have never before felt it so necessary to use my voice," McCall wrote Saturday. "For these reasons, I urge Governor Andrew Cuomo to run for Mayor of the City of New York and I offer my full support."

"I’ve known Andrew for over 40 years. Some might be surprised that I am supporting Andrew so strongly and so early," the letter continued. "But despite how it is sometimes framed in the press, we were never political adversaries: twenty years ago, we were competing candidates who shared then and share now the same core values of what is right and wrong and sought to make New York a better place."

"More than anyone else, Andrew is the leader we need and the leader we deserve," McCall wrote. 

Despite still not having declared a mayoral bid, Cuomo released a campaign-style video on Valentine's Day, in which he told senior citizens, "I missed you," and declaring that "the strongest four-letter word is not hate, it’s love." 

Albany politicians have questioned Adams’ independence from Trump after the DOJ asked that the corruption charges be dropped, and some prosecutors resigned amid allegations of a quid pro quo agreement. 

In response, Adams said Friday on X, "I want to be crystal clear with New Yorkers: I never offered — nor did anyone offer on my behalf — any trade of my authority as your mayor for an end to my case. Never." 

The 2000 presidential election was held up for weeks due to snafus across the state of Florida, and ultimately ended in a Supreme Court ruling effectively deciding that Texas Gov. George W. Bush would be named the victor.

In recent Arizona elections, voters and Republican politicians have complained of similarly grueling canvassing, wait times, alleged technical difficulties and a generally drawn-out process.

"How is it that Florida can have their results at 8:00 at night, and Arizona is the last in the country to report the electoral votes?" State Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, asked.

Petersen said that Arizona hopes to learn from Florida’s failures, and how it went from an unwittingly tardy linchpin in a historically narrow election to a well-oiled machine that counts 11 million votes more quickly than some smaller states.

AZ SENATE LEADER URGES BURGUM TO REVERSE OBAMA-BIDEN LAND GRAB AT URANIUM SITES

Petersen referenced what he called the "Florida model" that now restricts "late early" ballot drop-offs at county recorders’ offices – as Grand Canyon State voters could do so on Election Day while Floridians have only until the Friday before.

Tabulations of ballots will also occur on-site at offices, and address verification would occur every two to four years depending on the size of the Arizona county, he said.

Petersen said that such changes are necessary to restore public trust in the election process; something both states have historically struggled with.

In 2000, Bush supporters and conservative activists staged what became known as the "Brooks Brothers Riot" in Miami.

Longtime Republican consultant Roger Stone had reportedly help organize the group of well-coiffed protesters to converge on Miami-Dade County’s election office in hopes of halting the disputed ballot tabulations.

Bush later dubbed one participating lawmaker, then-Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y., "Congressman Kick-Ass" for his voraciousness that evening.

In Arizona in recent elections, right-wing activists, including commentator Alex Jones, converged on Phoenix election sites chanting, "1776" and demanding better oversight of the ballot count after allegations flew regarding problems with the long-winded canvassing.

Arizona Democrats, however, appear opposed to Republicans’ reform bill, claiming potential disenfranchisement among other critiques.

Gov. Katie Hobbs said that legislators are "attempting to jam through a partisan bill that guts vote-by-mail and makes it harder to vote."

NYC COUNCIL MODERATES THRILLED WITH HOMAN MEETING

"I offered common sense compromises to count votes faster, and they were rejected. I refuse to let extremists make it harder for Arizonans to vote."

State Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, disagreed, saying on X that he has voted early every election since turning 18 and finds no such issues with the legislation.

"I’ve read this bill over and over again and fail to understand how it ‘guts vote by mail and makes it harder to vote,’ Shope said. "There’s literally nothing in the bill that makes it harder to vote. Sign the Bill."

Christian Slater, a spokesperson for Hobbs, also criticized AZGOP Chair Gina Swoboda over the legislation, saying the administration tried to "negotiat[e] in good faith," but that Republicans "refused common sense compromises to protect voting rights."

Former Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., who retired from Congress to pursue a seat on the county board in Phoenix, said she supports the legislation, particularly from the vantage of her new role.

"As a Maricopa County supervisor, I know this legislation will help instill more confidence in our elections process," Lesko said in a statement.

"Governor Hobbs should sign this bill – it's the right thing to do for the future of Arizona elections."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Maricopa County – home to nearly two-thirds of the state’s population – would, under the legislation, see its early-vote deadline be set Friday evening prior to election day.

In the other 14 counties, voters who choose to "late early" vote would be required to show ID to county staff – so recorders could skip the time-consuming verification process that can delay the final count.

To push back on allegations of disenfranchisement, the bill would also provide for three days of early in-person voting running up to Election Day proper.

One of Lesko’s counterparts on the Maricopa board said the measure appears nonpartisan.

"This carefully crafted … legislation is a commonsense solution that ensures election integrity while expanding access by adding two extra days to an already nearly month-long early voting period," said Supervisor Mark Stewart.