NEW YORK (WABC) — The three candidates hoping to become New York City’s next mayor faced off on the debate stage Thursday night.
Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa all took part.
Cuomo, now running as an independent, spent much of the evening repeating his case that Mamdani lacks the experience to lead America’s biggest city and that his agenda is too radically left. Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, hit back, criticizing the former governor’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and repeatedly raising sexual harassment allegations that Cuomo denies.
But it was unclear whether any candidate did enough to move the needle during their two hours on stage.
For Cuomo, who spent much of the debate on defense, batting away criticisms over his long tenure in office, the stakes of the face-off were especially high. The debate was one of his last chances to try to convince voters that going with Mamdani, who already defeated the once-powerful governor in the primary this summer, would be a mistake.
The race is also Cuomo’s attempt at a political comeback after he resigned as governor four years ago following the sexual harassment allegations. Despite his denials of wrongdoing, he has been dogged by criticism over the scandal, along with other damaging baggage he picked up during while governor.
Mamdani, who spent much of the debate smiling as he tried to maintain the hopeful, charming vibe that has characterized his campaign, pushed his affordability agenda and sought to portray himself as a pragmatic liberal rather than a radical ideologue.
The race has catapulted him to national political stardom, with Republicans, including President Donald Trump, trying to turn him into the face of the Democratic Party by highlighting his most controversial past comments and positions and casting him as dangerous, a communist and an antisemite.
Meanwhile Sliwa, a Republican and the colorful creator of the Guardian Angels crime patrol group, tried to make his mark. Though he could have helped Cuomo by ganging up on Mamdani, he instead spent much of his time undercutting the former governor.
Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, suspended his reelection campaign late last month after being deeply wounded by a now-dismissed federal corruption case and his relationship with the Trump administration.
The question still remains: who will pick up Adams’ endorsement.
On Wednesday, Adams appeared on a webcast and confirmed that he has been in direct talks with Cuomo about an endorsement.
“I’m in conversation with Andrew. I think it’s important that we can’t succumb to the far-left agenda in the city,” Adams said. “And so, I need to make sure if I say to New York is this is who I endorse, I need to make sure that they are not going to be harmful to the city that I love so much. So, when that time comes, I’ll make an announcement.”
Cuomo responded by saying, “I think the more support you have, the better.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
———-
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
Copyright © 2025 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
WABC
Source link