Andrew Cuomo touts support for charter schools — which Zohran Mamdani opposes — after failing to nab powerful NYC teachers’ union endorsement

Maybe he needed to study the issue more?

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is proudly touting his support of charter schools — which his main mayoral rival, Zohran Mamdani, opposes — after failing to nab the powerful teachers’ union endorsement in the primary.

The ex-gov posted an infographic on X Friday slamming his socialist opponent over their education policy differences, which noted the Democratic nominee is “against” charter schools while claiming Cuomo is “for” them.

But during the Democratic primary campaign, Cuomo was noticeably quiet on charters as he boosted issues championed by the powerful United Federation of Teachers union instead.

His campaign’s press release outlining his educational platform made no mention of charters, and buried his piecemeal advocacy for them in point 16 of his original 25 point education plan, The Post reported at the time.

“Specialized high schools and public charter schools that demonstrate strong results for students — especially those of color or from underserved communities — must be supported and expanded, not politicized or undermined,” the plan stated.

Cuomo also failed to explicitly say whether he supported lifting the cap on charter schools, which he supported as governor, during the primary race.

Manhattan Institute Educational Scholar Jennifer Weber noted that while Cuomo supported charters as governor, she believes he toned down his rhetoric during the primary in a bid to nab the UFT endorsement.

But since the UFT endorsed Mamdani following his stunning win in June, Cuomo — who is running in the November election as an independent — is more free to speak out in support of the issue, fiercely opposed by the union and its boss, Mike Mulgrew, Weber said.

“I think that it is an important focus right now, against Mandami, because the education focus needs to be about improving educational outcomes, and charter schools have shown better outcomes for students,” she said.

Cuomo’s updated platform has a section on his campaign website that reads “expand and protect charter schools” in which he says he supports boosting the state cap to allow more of the schools to open in New York City.

During an August press conference, Cuomo also publicly voiced support for lifting the cap.

“Are we lifting the charter cap? Or are we siding with the teacher’s unions?” Democratic consultant Chris Sosa said.

“I recommend vertigo medication before trying to locate Cuomo’s current position, then be sure to check back a week later.”

A longtime political strategist added: “Summer isn’t over yet, still using the old flip flops. They’re easy to use but can get irritating fast.”

Before he infamously left office in disgrace in 2021, the thrice-elected Democrat championed himself as the “students’ lobbyist” due to his ardent charter advocacy.

He also supported a state law that required the city to pick up the tab for charter schools to lease space in private buildings if the city refused to allow them to co-locate in public schools as a rebuke against then-Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“The Governor has been consistent on charters throughout his time in public service and – unlike many politicians addicted to lip service – actually raised the cap in New York City while Governor and put a stop to bureaucratic tactics that trapped charters in spider webs of red tape,” Cuomo campaign spokesman Rich Azzopardi said in a statement. 

“Let’s help kids where they need it the most.”