In a heated final mayoral debate held in New York City, candidates faced off with personal attacks dominating the discussion. With the election looming just weeks away, Socialist Party candidate Zoran Mamdani seems to have an edge in the polls, yet the debate spiraled into clashes among the candidates.
Here are five notable moments from the debate.
1. “Hit his tucha.”
Andrew Cuomo, the independent candidate and former Democratic governor, criticized Mamdani’s perceived lack of leadership skills. He claimed that President Trump would look down on Mamdani if he were to win the mayoralty.
“Trump believes he can take control of New York if elected, as he has no respect for Mamdani. He considers him inexperienced and would want to beat him up,” Cuomo stated.
Mamdani countered, labeling Cuomo as “the very puppet of Donald Trump,” arguing that Trump seeks Cuomo’s election not for the benefit of New Yorkers, but for his own purposes.
2. “I ran away!”
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, who isn’t as prominent in polls, made a notable jab at Cuomo over his controversial resignation: “Andrew, you didn’t resign; you fled impeachment!”
Meanwhile, Cuomo directed most of his attacks at Mamdani, stating, “You have no experience running a government.” He criticized Mamdani’s congressional attendance and work as “shameful.”
To this, Mamdani shot back, quipping, “It’s always a pleasure to hear Andrew Cuomo create his own facts,” pointing out Cuomo’s previous leadership role as detrimental to the city.
3. Meme moment
A chaotic moment arose when Mamdani dodged questions regarding a housing initiative. Both Cuomo and Sliwa pressed him for answers, with Cuomo resorting to mockery, saying, “This is a TikTok dance,” motioning dramatically and creating a notable moment that could become meme-worthy.
Mamdani attempted to deflect by stating he was appealing to New York City voters, while the moderators insisted he answer directly, which led to confusion on stage.
4. Do you support a worldwide holy war?
Both Sliwa and the debate hosts scrutinized Mamdani regarding his views on Israel, citing concerns from the Jewish community. Sliwa brought personal stakes into play, emphasizing the fear that his sons felt regarding Mamdani’s stance.
Mamdani responded firmly, stating he has never supported global jihad and attributed negative perceptions to his status as the first Muslim candidate in this race. He reassured Sliwa that he aims to protect all New Yorkers.
5. A stage full of scandals
When given the freedom to question one another, Cuomo and Mamdani hit hard on controversial issues. Cuomo accused Mamdani of being a negative force in the city and confronted him about not opposing Uganda’s anti-gay laws.
Mamdani, in turn, referenced Cuomo’s own historical sexual harassment allegations. Cuomo dismissed the topic, stating, “The lawsuit has been dropped,” and defended his stance on boycotting Israel while expressing no issues with BDS against Uganda.
In the end, Mamdani attempted to pivot questions about Cuomo’s experience back to Cuomo, pointing out his significant missteps during his governorship, like a $5 million book deal while overseeing nursing home crises. But Cuomo rebutted with claims of Mamdani’s own inexperience.
