Cuomo Scores Another Big Union Endorsement While Ramos Gains Momentum Too
The 2025 NYC mayoral contest just got a bit hotter and an awful lot more interesting. Tuesday, veteran former Gov. Andrew Cuomo won still another high-profile labor union endorsement, that being the powerful Ironworkers. The nod gives his campaign some actual heft in the form of being the third union to get behind him within a 24-hour span.
Ironworkers’ confidence vote follows hard on the heels of two other very influential union organization endorsements: 32BJ SEIU and Hotel Trades Council (HTC). Clearly, Cuomo is making headway with blue-collar workers, and it’s giving his candidacy some serious momentum for the city’s top spot.
But Cuomo wasn’t the only one who got a nod of approval from the Ironworkers. State Senator Jessica Ramos, the current Senate Labor Chair, also got an endorsement and that was their second choice. That may not sound like a lot at first blush, but in a crowded and competitive race, that kind of endorsement is a game-changer.
Cuomo Leads the Union Charge
It should not be surprising that Andrew Cuomo has had a tumultuous relationship with New Yorkers since he resigned in 2021 under scandal. But recently, he’s been able to achieve what appears to be a coordinated political rebirth and organized labor appears to be assisting him in doing so.
The imprimatur of the Ironworkers was not nominal; they were expressing gratitude for his decades of supporting union labor and for delivering large-dollar infrastructure projects that have resulted in thousands of jobs being imported into the state. In a statement, during remarks to the press, Cuomo spokesperson described the Mario Cuomo Bridge and redevelopment at LaGuardia Airport as two among several such examples of his pro-labor legacy.
These were not front-page projects, they were work for actual people, decent pay and reliable employment for thousands of union laborers. And for labor unions such as the Ironworkers, that sort of history is important. Supported by 32BJ, HTC, and now the Ironworkers, Cuomo is gaining momentum where it most counts among blue-collar voters who cast ballots in New York elections.
Ramos Gains Boost Though Lagging Polls
So let’s discuss Jessica Ramos. She might not be on top of Cuomo or even her Queens legislative district currently Zohran Mamdani, but that doesn’t exactly indicate she’s out of it. In fact, Tuesday’s endorsement is confirmation that some of the big guns of the labor world still have lots of hope about her candidacy.
The Ironworkers thanked Ramos for her ongoing fight for workers’ rights and for attending picket lines year after year. New York State Ironworkers President Pete Meyers credited her as a real friend of working families, in the streets and at the legislature.
It’s not a political stumble for Ramos – it’s personal. As she herself put it, “The labor movement raised me.” She went on to explain that her campaign is one of making a New York City where a single good job can be enough to live with dignity – a positive message that resonates so deeply with working-class voters.
And even as she is still capable of falling behind Cuomo and Mamdani in the polls, the endorsement may be interpreted as a sign of a turning tide in her fortunes. To be able to win even second-string notice from a large labor federation is no small achievement particularly in an election where union endorsement translates into money, volunteers, and credibility.
The Bigger Picture: What This Means for the Race
Labor unions have been a political force in New York for decades. They don’t just endorse candidates publicly they send their boots on the ground, money in hand, and influence. And with these recent developments, it’s increasingly evident day by day that the unions are supporting candidates with a history of standing up for workers’ rights.
For Cuomo, the extra boost is a good indication that his campaign is reaching an influential voting group. Being able to mobilize huge unions to his cause is proof that he is still a force to be contended with in city politics. And for Ramos, here is the shot of adrenaline she might need to move ahead of the pack. And it places her squarely on the list of possibilities among progressive candidates for those workers’ rights voters who are not quite willing to go the distance for the better-known candidates. Zohran Mamdani, however, could potentially catch up. Even as a liberal and outspoken lawmaker, he wasn’t favored by the Ironworkers – an election potential loss where votes are cash.
What Comes Next?
The race for mayor continues to be live and a far way to go to 2025. Yet one thing for sure: unions are beginning to shape the terrain. Cuomo, who has infrastructural experience along with union cred, is an early favorite. Ramos is on her own route on a street-level agenda shaped by her own union movement credentials. Endorsements like these don’t guarantee a win, but they sure make winning a lot more likely. As the field continues to evolve and more unions weigh in, we’ll get a clearer picture of who’s really got the muscle to lead New York City.
As Cuomo accumulates endorsements like victories and Ramos recently gained welcome momentum now the question is, what does the rest of the field do about it?
