Sources told CNN that Cuomo's team believes the general electorate could be more receptive to his candidacy than primary voters.

The shift came despite effort by Cuomo’s camp to persuade labor leaders to hold off in moving to Mamdani, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

Andrew Cuomo will not drop out of the New York City mayoral race by the Friday deadline to remove himself from the general election ballot, sources tell CNN. That leaves in place contingency plans he had established before the Democratic primary to challenge Zohran Mamdani and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams in November.