Ex-Cuomo ally and Syracuse mayor Stephanie Miner enters governor's race

Stephanie Miner, the former Syracuse mayor and one-time ally of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, announced that she's mounting an independent bid for governor.

"The price of politics as usual and the cost of corruption is weighing us all down. That's why I'm running for Governor—not as a Democrat, not as a Republican, but as a citizen of New York. Join me and let's build a better NY together," Miner wrote in a tweet she sent a little after 6 a.m.

The tweet included a link to a story about her candidacy that was published by the New York Times.

A candidacy by Miner has been hinted at for months.

In an interview with the Times Union in May, Miner said that her supporters have been talking with firms that specialize in gathering petition signatures, and have also been speaking with potential campaign volunteers.

"It's all part of the exercise of running for office," Miner said.

As an independent in the general election, Miner could draw votes from Cuomo, who is seeking his third term, and help the Republican candidate, Dutchess County executive Marc Molinaro. It's also possible that Democrats that might otherwise back Molinaro would be drawn to Miner.

She may also pull votes away from actress Cynthia Nixon, who is running an insurgent campaign to be New York's first female governor. Nixon's campaign has gained momentum during the months when Miner has been mulling whether to make a bid.

Miner and Cuomo once had a good relationship – she was co-chair of the state Democratic Party early in the governor's tenure – but the two had a falling out over a 2013 op-ed that Miner penned in the New York Times criticizing Cuomo's budget for leaving municipalities strapped for money. Since then, Miner has been a persistent Cuomo critic.