Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani deftly avoided tough questions and provided minimal specifics while countering a series of attacks from former Governor Andrew Cuomo in a fieryfirst general mayoral election debate held on Thursday.
The back-and-forth clash between the three participants—Mamdani, Cuomo, and a jab-happy Curtis Sliwa—broadcast from 30 Rockefeller Center made for entertaining television, yet left New Yorkers questioning how their future mayor would navigate the complexities of governing the nation’s largest metropolis.
Mamdani, the leading Democratic candidate, stuck to his theme of “affordability,” but struggled to elaborate on how he would realize his initiatives and often sidestepped direct answers to contentious inquiries.
“Well, Zohran, boy, you have fantasies,” Sliwa remarked during the two-hour debate, hosted by NBC 4 New York, Telemundo, and POLITICO.
“You’re never going to find the funding for everything you want. It’s all about being free, free, free. That’s a fantasy. Let’s face reality.”
Cuomo, running as an independent, took every chance to attack Mamdani over his Democratic Socialists of America-supported positions on issues like prostitution and various other policies, while also questioning his experience and past statements about the NYPD.
“He’s never had a real job,” Cuomo stated, emphasizing his concern about what would happen during emergencies like 9/11 or a health crisis should Mamdani be in charge.
Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens, remained composed, weaving together his ambitious visions of free public transport, universal childcare, and rent freezes while mocking Cuomo’s ties to President Trump and the wealthy.
“As much as Andrew wants to dig up tweets from 2020—while he was sending seniors to their deaths in nursing homes—I aim to collaborate with police officers, not to defund the NYPD,” he responded.
Despite the ongoing barrage of criticisms, the debate failed to introduce any fresh topics, as Cuomo was confronted with his previous record, including fallout from the COVID pandemic and a sexual harassment scandal that led to his resignation in 2021.
“We have the architect and the apprentice of the cash bail repeal that has turned our city into a disaster,” Sliwa stated, noticeably not wearing his signature red beret as he stood between Cuomo and Mamdani.
Throughout the exchange, Sliwa was often eclipsed by the tensions between Mamdani and Cuomo, prompting him to share personal anecdotes, including an account of being shot in 1992 by mobsters in a yellow cab.
The Guardian Angels founder did not hold back in his critiques of Cuomo’s tenure, even going so far as to declare, “You are no Mario Cuomo.”
Key Moments from the First NYC Mayoral Debate
- Cuomo targets Mamdani on DSA plans for prostitution decriminalization
- Mamdani struggles to justify funding $10B in free programs
- Cuomo confronts Mamdani for calling the NYPD ‘racist’
- Mamdani criticized for lack of experience: ‘He has literally never had a job’
- Mamdani faces backlash for silence on Hamas
“I understand you believe you’re the toughest around, but you lost your own primary,” Sliwa remarked to Cuomo, who suggested that Trump would hesitate to send the National Guard to NYC if asked to “back off.”
Both Cuomo and Sliwa seemed eager to make a standout impression in light of Mamdani’s persistent double-digit lead in polls leading up to November’s election.
However, their unified assault did not disrupt Mamdani, who returned repeatedly to his affordability message—despite lacking a clear plan for financing his $10 billion socialist agenda, all while Governor Kathy Hochul has declared her opposition to new taxes.
“Many doubted my campaign at its inception, and now I proudly stand before you as the Democratic nominee—the one who secured the most votes in city primary history,” Mamdani asserted, evading the question.
When pressed on his stance regarding Israel, Mamdani eventually stated that “of course” he believes Hamas should cease fire as part of a peace agreement, reversing an earlier comment where he said he had “no opinion.”
He reiterated that he no longer advocates for defunding the police, yet maintained that he would not add any new officers to a force that is already lacking 1,500 personnel out of 35,000.
Mamdani refuted Cuomo as the former governor accused him of supporting the “legalization of prostitution.” Nevertheless, he has promoted legislation for decriminalizing sex work during his tenure as a state lawmaker.
He also expressed support for Local Law 97, requiring upgrades to large buildings for reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
When Cuomo criticized his rent-freeze plan, Mamdani reiterated his commitment to freezing rent for stabilized apartments, regardless of the potential financial impacts on landlords.
“Year after year, the data confirms that salaries are stagnant while costs rise, leaving New Yorkers unable to afford their homes,” he defended.
Sliwa aimed barbs at Mamdani as well, dismissing the democratic socialist’s approach to handling mental health crises with a blend of police and mental health professionals as “fantasy.”
Political analysts speculated that this contentious debate might not shift public opinion significantly.
“This disorganized debate emphasizes that regardless of who wins in November, New Yorkers are the real losers,” said a Democratic strategist.
“Mamdani has many vulnerabilities on crucial issues that should make him an easy target,” stated political strategist Andrew Kirtzman. “Yet, as a communicator, he demonstrates excellence unseen in a generation—he is smooth, concise, consistent, and remarkably composed. While Cuomo and Sliwa had their moments, they spent two hours attempting to rattle him and ultimately failed.”
Cuomo, having lost the Democratic primary to Mamdani, remarked on his defeat at one point, suggesting that his rivals lacked the political prowess typical of their party.
When questioned on insights gained from his loss, the former governor cited his limited social media experience.
“I didn’t leverage social media effectively, which is a very powerful tool. I believe the assemblyman outperformed me on platforms like TikTok during the campaign,” he observed.
Mamdani countered that the reasoning was straightforward.
“After an hour and twenty minutes of this debate, we’ve yet to hear Governor Cuomo say the word ‘affordable,’” he noted. “That’s why he lost the primary, and that’s why he’ll lose the general election.”
