Overview

• Cuomo unveiled his plan at a campaign rally backed by multiple labor unions including UFCW1500, RWDSU and the Amalgamated Transit Union.
• The proposal would take effect in 2027—about a year into his term if elected—and requires approval from the state legislature.
• Endorsements from District Council 9 and the District Council of Carpenters underscored strong union support for the wage increase.
• His broader affordability strategy includes building 500,000 affordable housing units over the next decade, expanding childcare access and lowering taxes.
• Cuomo maintains a double-digit lead in polls as rivals Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander propose hikes to $30 by 2030 and to $19.25 now rising to $21.25 next year, respectively.