NEW YORK (AP) — In a surprising political twist, New York City Mayor Eric Adams is set to endorse Andrew Cuomo for the city’s mayoral race. This decision comes despite Adams having previously criticized Cuomo as a “snake and a liar.” The endorsement aims to bolster Cuomo’s campaign against Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee.

Todd Shapiro, a spokesperson for Adams, confirmed the mayor’s support for Cuomo and stated that Adams plans to actively campaign with him. Although Adams mentioned he would meet with Cuomo later in the day during a press conference, he avoided further questions regarding the election.

The two political figures were seen together at Madison Square Garden during the New York Knicks’ season opener, just after the final mayoral debate. Their cordial interaction was captured in photographs, igniting rumors about Adams’ impending endorsement.

Whether Adams’ backing will significantly aid Cuomo in the upcoming November election remains uncertain. Adams recently ended his reelection bid amid dwindling political influence caused by a federal corruption case, which was ultimately dismissed thanks to an extraordinary intervention by the Trump administration.

Cuomo, known for his centrist stance, positions himself as the sole candidate capable of overcoming Mamdani. Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist and state assembly member, stunned the political scene by decisively defeating Cuomo in the June primary.

Cuomo’s path to victory rests on his ability to win over moderates and Republicans, but in recent days he has admitted that it is becoming “harder mathematically” for him with as long as Republican Curtis Sliwa remains in the race. At the same time, the former governor has significantly amped up his criticism of Mamdani, appearing on conservative media to claim that the city would descend into chaos if Mamdani were to win.

Sliwa, the colorful founder of the Guardian Angels crime patrol group, has steadfastly refused calls to drop out from both Cuomo and his supporters.

The endorsement would mark a reconciliation of sorts for the two longtime New York politicians, each of whom had escalated attacks against the other before Adams ended his campaign.

Shortly before dropping out, Adams accused Cuomo making “a career of pushing Black candidates out of races,” referring to the former governor’s past state races.

Cuomo, meanwhile, has described Adams’ management of the city as a “never-ending series of government corruption.”

“New Yorkers had turned off on his management of his city,” he said earlier this year.

The days after Adams’ exit brought some signs of a thawing of tensions, with several of the mayor’s allies and deputies coming out in favor of Cuomo.

In a video announcing he was leaving the race, Adams mentioned neither candidate by name, but warned of “insidious forces” using local government to “advance divisive agendas” — which many interpreted as a reference to Mamdani.

___ Izaguirre reported from Albany, New York.