Who's running against Gov. Cuomo in 2022? A look at the candidate field

ALBANY N.Y. — As New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faces public scrutiny and state investigations, this week he displayed confidence of seeking a fourth term.

However, for the first time in his political career, Cuomo was beaten by a New York Republican who surpassed his campaign fundraising this year. Republican challenger Congressman Lee Zeldin raised $4 million in three months. Cuomo raised $2.5 in the past six months.

Many insiders suspect Cuomo has other challengers ahead. His biggest challenge could come from the left, by the woman now leading an investigation into staffers claiming sexual and workplace harassment by Cuomo: Attorney General Letitia James.

James, who has not announced a challenge to Cuomo, has just $1.6 million in her campaign account while Governor Cuomo’s sitting on $18.5 million.

Governor Cuomo’s political star rose to the national heights in 2020 as he navigated the coronavirus pandemic. By early 2021, he had sunk to new depths including state and federal investigations into the counting of nursing home deaths, a poorly selling book about leadership that brought him a $5 million payday and an investigation into allegations his staffers were working on the book while on taxpayer time.

Not to mention, the repeated stories of sexual and workplace harassment prompted a still active attorney general investigation.

The governor blamed politics for his troubles this week after being cleared of the Department of Justice investigation into nursing home deaths.

MORE: DOJ drops investigation into COVID nursing home deaths

“The political environment has gotten so toxic in this country, so toxic,” Cuomo said. “This kind of toxic politics is bad.”

Cuomo continued to blame politics for lack of trust from the public.

“People lose trust in the system and in the government,” Cuomo said. “It was toxic politics.”

Cuomo also questioned the politics of those tasked to investigate him.

MORE: Cuomo questions neutrality of AG investigators in probe

“On the AG’s report, I said I have concerns about the independence of the reviewers” Cuomo said. “Is this all happening in a political system? Yes. That is undeniable.”

Cuomo said to look into who is investigating him without giving specifics as to why he has concerns.

“Look at who the independent investigators are,” Cuomo said. “Do a little history. Go to Google the independent reviewers and tell me what you see.”

Many expect the Democrat attorney general to run for governor in 2022, making her investigation into the governor potentially crucial to her chances.

Political Consultant and journalist Liz Benjamin covered state politics for more than two decades. Benjamin said James must have a game plan if she plans to take down Governor Cuomo.

"What’s the saying?” Benjamin said. “If you shoot at the king you better shoot to kill. It better be a really impressive investigation and I think she’s aware of that.”

Benjamin continues to emphasize the importance of work and planning James needs to do if she plans to run against Cuomo.

“I think she’s really got to get going if she is in fact planning on doing anything and in fact it has to happen soon."

Right now, Cuomo is facing a fundraising challenge against his potential competitor Rep. Zeldin, who has raised more money than Cuomo over the last six months.

“A lot is being made of that and certainly it’s embarrassing for the Governor,” Benjamin said “Particularly for someone who has his fundraising chops.”

In 2018 Cuomo spent more than $35 million to win re-election in a primary over Democrat Cynthia Nixon and then Republican Marc Molinaro in the general election. He also spent more than $8 million in just the three weeks leading up to that Democrat primary.

“It’s a Democrat-dominated state,” Benjamin said. “So to say that he’s vulnerable from Lee Zeldin, I’m not so sure. He was very pro-Trump, he was very conservative so that’s probably not going to fly too terribly well,” Benjamin said.”Not in the urban centers, not in the Ithaca, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany."

While Zeldin is the perceived front-runner, other Republicans including Rudy Guliani’s son Andrew are also seeking the nomination.

“He would have to be convicted of a felony and forced to resign,” Benjamin said.

Cuomo’s 2022 challengers may remain unknown, but you can safely bet Cuomo’s the Democratic candidate they’re going to have to beat.

"He’s still the most powerful person in New York, even hobbled by the investigations as he is," Benjamin said.

The general election for Governor of New York will take place on November 8, 2022. There are currently no further details of when the primary election voting will occur at this time.