Experience, integrity and Trump: key takeaways from New York’s mayoral debate | New York
1. Trump’s threats against New York loomed large
During the debate, the Republican president’s threats to New York dominated many conversations.
In response to the first question, which asked candidates to title their legacy as mayor, Mamdani responded: “Mamdani continues to challenge Trump, providing affordable service.”
All three candidates acknowledged that they would not support Trump sending the national guard to the city. Mamdani reiterated his claims that he was the best candidate to “stand up to Donald Trump and truly deliver,” while Cuomo argued that if Mamdani won, Trump would try to take over the city and become “Mayor Trump.” Sliwa suggested it would be better not to be “harsh” against the president or risk provoking him.
Mamdani harshly criticized Trump’s deportation efforts but echoed his opponents, saying he would work with the president if elected.
All three candidates were asked when they last spoke to Trump. Sliwa said the last time he spoke to Trump was “years ago,” when Trump “praised him for saving the annual Veterans Day parade.” Mamdani said he never spoke to Trump, while Cuomo said he believed he spoke to him after the then-presidential candidate’s assassination attempt last year.
But in August New York Times Trump reportedly recently spoke directly with Cuomo about the mayor’s race. During Thursday’s debate stage, Cuomo denied the report.
2. Two main weaknesses came under fire: Cuomo’s character and Mamdani’s inexperience
Cuomo started the night attacking Mamdani, saying she was too unqualified and inexperienced to lead New York City.
“This is not a job that lends itself to on-the-job training,” Cuomo said. “When you look at the unsuccessful mayors, they were people with no management experience.”
Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblywoman from Queens who describes herself as a democratic socialist, opposed Cuomo and talked about her experiences in New York City as well as her years in the New York state legislature.
Mamdani touted himself as “someone who actually paid rent in the city” and “someone who had to wait for the bus that never came, actually buying food in this city.”
Cuomo fired back: “The congressman said he had no experience.”
Mamdani retorted: “What I lack in experience I make up for in honesty, and what you lack in integrity you can never make up for in experience.”
3. Tensions rise around ceasefire in Israel and Gaza
As the candidates debated Israel and Gaza, Mamdani once again faced questions about her past statements about Israel. Cuomo attempted to demand that Mamdani condemn Hamas, prompting Mamdani to say: “Of course I believe that [Hamas] “They must lay down their weapons… All parties must cease fire and lay down their weapons.”
Mamdani also said he has learned more about antisemitism and how the phrase “globalizing the intifada” can be hurtful from his conversations with New York Jews since the primaries.
While Cuomo repeated his usual attacks on Mamdani, claiming that she was a danger to Jewish New Yorkers, Mamdani called out Cuomo for not visiting mosques.
After Cuomo was criticized for failing to name a mosque he had previously visited as governor, Mamdani noted that the former governor had visited a single mosque and said Thursday: “Andrew Cuomo had to be beaten by a Muslim candidate.” [in the primary] “To set foot in the mosque.”
4. Sliwa tried to stand out without the red cap
Sliwa, the Republican nominee and founder of the Guardian Angels, spent most of the night taking shots at both Mamdani and Cuomo. He called Mamdani’s plans and ideas “fantasy,” mocked Cuomo for losing the Democratic primary and went after the former governor over sexual harassment allegations.
Positioning himself as an outsider, Sliwa sought to distance himself from the political order.
“Thank God I’m not a professional politician, because they helped create this crime crisis we’re facing in the city,” he said at one point.
When Cuomo claimed on stage that he was the only candidate who could take on Trump, Sliwa responded: “You think you’re the toughest man alive. You lost your own primary.”
In another heated moment for Sliwa during a discussion about policing, Sliwa told Cuomo about his father: “I knew Mario Cuomo. You’re not Mario Cuomo, Andrew Cuomo.”
5. Mamdani doesn’t have to support Kathy Hochul
When the three candidates were asked whether they supported the re-election campaign of Kathy Hochul, New York’s Democratic governor, none raised their hands.
Mamdani’s reaction was notable as the governor openly supported him for the mayoralty.
“I’m focused on November and appreciate her support and work,” the Democratic nominee said.
