The first debate among the three men running for New York City mayor was marked by heated back-and-forths about crime, qualifications, Israel, affordability — and President Trump.
Mr. Trump has made no secret that he doesn’t want Mamdani to win, saying last month, “I don’t like to see a communist become mayor, I will tell you that.”
Cuomo also asserted that Mamdani has little work experience, saying, “This is no job for on-the-job training.”
Mr. Trump made it a central theme of his re-election bid.
And all three refused to raise their hand in a show of support for a possible effort by Mr. Trump to send National Guard troops to the city.
Harrowing back-and-forths concerning crime, qualifications, Israel, affordability, and President Trump characterized the first debate between the three men vying for the position of mayor of New York City.
Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate and former governor, is an assemblyman. Republican candidate and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa and independent candidate Andrew Cuomo repeatedly attacked one another Thursday night.
After only fifteen minutes, Sliwa declared, “This room has a lot of testosterone. “..”.
By referring to Mamdani as a democratic socialist and asserting that Mamdani called former President Barack Obama an “evil liar,” Cuomo attempted to establish himself as the obvious choice for Democratic voters in the deep blue city. “.
Mr. As he stated last month, “I don’t like to see a communist become mayor, I will tell you that,” Trump has made it clear that he does not want Mamdani to win. “.
Additionally, Cuomo claimed that Mamdani lacked work experience, stating, “This is not a position that requires on-the-job training. “.
Mamdani answered, “My integrity makes up for my lack of experience.”. “You can never make up for your lack of integrity with experience. “.”.
Cuomo was attacked by Mamdani, who implied that he was somehow connected to the president and called him an old-fashioned politician who would only provide more of the same to New Yorkers.
When asked who they thought was the best mayor of New York City, that was the only time the two agreed. Fiorello LaGuardia, who held the position from 1934 to 1945, was mentioned by both.
The primary concern was the issue of affordability.
Regards, Mr. It was a major component of Trump’s campaign for reelection. According to polls, it greatly boosted his support.
Furthermore, according to a CBS News poll conducted last month, Mamdani was in the lead, with a particularly large majority of respondents citing the cost of living as their main concern.
“We have been in this debate for an hour and twenty minutes, and we haven’t heard Governor Cuomo use the word ‘affordability,'” Mamdani said at one point. He lost the Democratic primary as a result of this. “.
Antisemitism and the legitimacy of Israel as a Jewish state appeared to be the main topics of discussion again and again.
Still, the assemblyman refuses to state that he thinks Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish state. He has a contentious personality,” Cuomo asserted.
Mandami pushed back, a Muslim.
“I have stated repeatedly that I acknowledge Israel’s legitimate existence. I’ve declared that I won’t accept any state’s—” he said.
“As a Jewish state,” Cuomo stated.
“I said that I will not—” Mamdani uttered.
“As a Jewish state,” Cuomo stated.
According to Mamdani, “If I would be allowed to finish,”.
“OK,” said Cuomo.
According to Mamdani, “I would not recognize any state’s right to exist with a system of hierarchy on the basis of race or religion.”.
Unwearing his trademark red beret, Sliwa attacked Cuomo on a regular basis. Both are making an effort to win over moderate voters.
Not a single candidate supported Gov. In her campaign for reelection, Kathy Hochul. Furthermore, none of the three raised their hands to indicate support for Mr. Trump’s potential attempt to send National Guard troops to the city.
When asked when they had last had a conversation with the president, Sliwa replied that it had been at a Veterans Day Parade many years ago, while Cuomo said it had been following the 2024 assassination attempt on Mr. Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. He’s never spoken to him, Mamdani said.
Questions about breakfast orders and whether the candidates had ever bought marijuana from a cannabis shop were among the lighter moments of the debate. Mamdani said he had, grinning broadly and appearing flushed.
October will see the next debate. 22, prior to the Nov. election number four.
