Rudy Giuliani’s son Andrew says he will challenge Governor Cuomo in 2022

The 35-year-old was a professional golfer for seven years, but has no experience as an elected official

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: Andrew Giuliani and Donna Hanover attend the 2011 Skating With the Stars Gala at Wollman Rink - Central Park on April 4, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

The son of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is reportedly planning to challenge Governor Andrew Cuomo for the state's top spot during the 2022 gubernatorial race.

Andrew Giuliani, Rudy Giuliani's son, told the Washington Examiner that he was planning to challenge Mr Cuomo in 2022.

"Outside of anybody named Trump, I think I have the best chance to win and take the state back, and I think there's an opportunity in 2022 with a wounded Democratic candidate, whether it's going to be Gov. [Andrew] Cuomo, whether it's going to be a radical [Attorney General] Letitia James, whether it's going to be a no-name lieutenant governor, I think there's a very, very real chance to win,” he said.

A win for either of the men in 2022 would ensure the continuation of New York political dynasties. Mr Cuomo's father, Mario Cuomo, spent more than a decade as the the governor of the state, and Rudy Giuliani spent six years as the Mayor of New York City.

“I believe I can win the race,” Mr Giuliani said.. “I think I'm the right candidate, and this is the right time to help change New York State, and we've got a playbook that works.”

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Mr Giuliani formerly worked as the associate director of the Office of Public Liaison in the Trump White House, but often served another role; Mr Trump's golf buddy. The 35-year-old was a professional golfer for seven years, though he has no experience as an elected official.

More recently, the former golfer-turned-Trump aide has taken a position as a political commentator at extreme-right wing conservative media channel Newsmax.

While Mr Giuliani no doubt hopes to capitalise on his name and his father's reputation among far-right voters, Rudy Giuliani's central, and very public, role in Mr Trump's fraudulent challenge to the 2020 election may ensure that the only people he appeals to are those most partisan voters.

Numerous sexual misconduct allegations paired with an ongoing scandal revolving around the governor's office covering up nursing home deaths during the early part of the coronavirus pandemic have left Mr Cuomo vulnerable, though it is unclear how much of that will stick to him come 2022.

After several women came forward to accuse Mr Cuomo of sexual misconduct, 16 of the 19 members of New York's delegation to the House of Representatives and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for him to resign.

Mr Cuomo has maintained that he will not step down.