HTC Endorses Andrew Cuomo for NYC Mayor
HTC has endorsed Andrew Cuomo for NYC Mayor. The former Governor has a strong track record of supporting hotel and gaming workers – and unions – across New York, and he’ll continue to stand by us if elected as NYC Mayor.
Cuomo is our members’ top choice for NYC Mayor
Last month, our union invited the top candidates running for NYC mayor to be interviewed by HTC President Rich Maroko, in front of hundreds of union members. We asked each candidate about the most pressing issues for NYC hotel and gaming workers, from whether they would stand with us in a potential city-wide contract fight, to supporting projects that create high-quality union jobs, to protecting our city from the threat of short-term tourist rentals and illegal hotels.
We asked our members what they thought of each candidate, and the answer was resounding: the overwhelming majority picked Cuomo as their top choice for NYC mayor.
It’s not just hotel and gaming workers in Cuomo’s corner. Our union announced the endorsement together with the building service workers at SEIU 32BJ. Cuomo now has the weight of our two politically-active, well-organized unions behind him.
An undeniable track record of our putting working families – and union members – first
Andrew Cuomo has a proven history of effective management and putting working families first. Our union’s members have experienced this firsthand.
Throughout his three terms as New York Governor, Cuomo consistently supported our fight against illegal hotels, standing against Airbnb’s ongoing efforts to weaken restrictions on short-term rentals.
Cuomo was at the helm when gaming expanded throughout New York State, and he was instrumental in ensuring that, with the growth of this new industry, came excellent union jobs. Cuomo signed the law that made sure the emerging gaming industry would result in high-quality jobs with a requirement for labor peace agreements. It’s because of that legislation, that 5,000 of our members in the gaming industry have excellent, good-paying jobs today.
Andrew Cuomo has supported us in difficult contract fights with management, including a boycott at the Hilton Albany where he backed up workers in their fight for a fair union contract. “Whenever you had a dispute with an owner, I was there,” remarked Andrew Cuomo at our 2025 mayoral forum.
During his time in office, Cuomo also advanced a number of causes important to working people – from reducing the penalty on striking workers to collect unemployment from seven weeks down to two weeks, to championing the Fight for $15 and increasing the minimum wage across New York.
“His record as Governor shows what’s possible when leadership puts working families first—and those are exactly the kinds of policy victories New Yorkers will need in the years ahead. Most importantly, he has a record of standing by our side during hard-fought contract fights. We have seen Andrew Cuomo deliver for our members when it counts the most,” said HTC President Rich Maroko.
The Next NYC Mayor Will be in Office When our City-Wide Contract Expires
The next NYC Mayor will be in office when our city-wide contract in NYC expires next summer. Heading into 2026, we need to have leaders in office who will walk on a picket line with us and stand with us publicly – instead of supporting the wealthy hotel owners who will be on the other side of the bargaining table next year.
Andrew Cuomo will be that mayor.
“When a friend is in a fight, that fight is your fight,” Andrew Cuomo said to HTC President Rich Maroko and the hundreds of HTC members who tuned in for the forum. “If there’s a picket line, I’ll be on the picket line.”
“Now, especially as our union approaches a renegotiation of our city-wide hotel contract that will determine the livelihoods of our members and their families for the next decade, we need a leader who understands what’s at stake and will have our backs through it all,” said HTC President Rich Maroko. “We know Andrew will be a formidable leader, and we are proud to support him.”
