Former Independent New York City mayoral candidate Jim Walden has endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo after previously competing against each other in the race.

Walden says Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, a socialist, would “destroy” the city with his “radical agenda” if elected.

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Walden said, “Mayor [Eric] Adams and Curtis Sliwa cannot win this race” in a letter shared with the Washington Examiner.

“Since July, I have been warning that Zohran Mamdani’s radical agenda would destroy this city. He is anti-cop and anti-business. His ‘free everything’ policies are economic fantasy. His hostility toward Israeli businesses is flatly antisemitic. And with so many names on the ballot, he is poised to win,” he wrote.

Walden’s essay appeared to come in response to a poll released Thursday that showed Mamdani ahead of Cuomo by 18 percentage points among the city’s likely voters. The lawyer dropped out of the mayor’s race earlier this month and urged other candidates who polled poorly to do so as well.

“My decision to endorse is not about party loyalty but about responsibility in a flawed system. It reflects principle, not party; I owe no obligation to either side. It’s not about agreeing on every issue, but about uniting when the math and the stakes are clear,” he said.

“[Cuomo] is the only candidate with a path to victory and the strength to stop Mamdani. His policies and plans are exactly what New Yorkers need to restore safety and affordability,” he added.

Walden concluded his essay by acknowledging that Republican candidates Sliwa and Adams “have run spirited campaigns,” but “must step aside.”

Cuomo praised Walden for his support.

“I am deeply grateful to Jim Walden for his support and for his principled decision to put the future of New York ahead of personal ambition,” Cuomo said in a statement shared with the Washington Examiner.

 “Jim has always been a fighter for accountability and justice in this city, and his endorsement is a testament to the urgency of this election and the need for experienced leadership to keep New York safe, affordable, and strong for future generations,” he added.

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Adams and Sliwa have signaled that they will push forward in the race and not step aside. Sliwa recently accused Cuomo of trying to bribe him out of the race, while Adams confirmed earlier this month that he would stay in the race amid rumors he’d take a Trump administration job.

Cuomo, Adams, and Sliwa will face the favored Mamdani in the general election on Nov. 4.