Cuomo campaigns with Republican Jewish lawmaker, who broke with party to endorse him

Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who is trailing the far-left anti-Israel activist Zohran Mamdani in New York City’s mayoral race, campaigns with Inna Vernikov, one of the city’s leading Republicans.

Vernikov is a Jewish lawmaker on the city council and is originally from Ukraine. She represents an area in South Brooklyn that is conservative and home to many Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union.

Her pairing with Cuomo is significant because Vernikov broke with her party to endorse Cuomo over the Republican Curtis Sliwa, citing the threat from Mamdani.

She is also a voice for Cuomo in the conservative area that mostly voted for US President Donald Trump in last year’s election.

Cuomo lost the Democratic party race to Mamdani and is running as an independent, but is a lifelong Democrat.

Had a great meeting with Councilwoman @InnaVernikov today at Ocean View Cafe in Brooklyn: the heart of a proud Russian-speaking community, many of whom came to New York after escaping Soviet Russia.

Inna has been a fearless voice against antisemitism and for public safety,… pic.twitter.com/d3xF52oa2u

— Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) October 31, 2025

Vernikov is one of the city’s most recognizable Republican lawmakers and an outspoken supporter of Israel.

“Inna has been a fearless voice against antisemitism and for public safety, accountability, and common sense in city government. We may come from different parties, but we share the same goal: protecting New York’s values and future,” Cuomo says.

“She said something powerful: that many in this community feel everything they once escaped would now be coming to New York if Mamdani is elected,” Cuomo says, tying Mamdani’s far-left socialism to the Soviet Union.