Experience, integrity and Trump: key takeaways from New York’s mayoral debate | New York
1. Trump’s threats against New York were concerning
The Republican president’s threats against New York City dominated discussions during the debate.
In response to the first question, which asked the candidates to give a headline on their legacy as mayor, Mamdani responded: “Mamdani continues to take on Trump and delivers on his promises on affordability.”
All three candidates agreed 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 actually deliver on his promises,” while Cuomo maintained that Trump would try to take over the city and become “Mayor Trump” if Mamdani won. Sliwa suggested it was best not to be “tough” on the president or risk goading him.
Mamdani sharply criticized Trump’s deportation efforts, but echoed his opponents in saying he would work with the president if elected.
All three candidates were asked about the last time they spoke with Trump. Sliwa said the last time he spoke with Trump was “many years ago” when he “congratulated him for saving the annual Veterans Day parade.” Mamdani said he never spoke with Trump, while Cuomo said he thought he spoke to him after the assassination attempt on the then-presidential candidate last year.
However, in August, The New York Times reported that Trump had recently spoken directly with Cuomo about the mayoral race. On the debate stage Thursday, Cuomo denied the report.
2. Two main weaknesses were criticized: Cuomo’s character and Mamdani’s inexperience
Cuomo began the evening by attacking Mamdani, calling him too unqualified and inexperienced to lead New York.
“This is not a job for on-the-job training,” Cuomo said. “If you look at the failing mayors, they are the ones who have no management experience.”
Mamdani, the 33-year-old Queens state assemblyman who describes himself as a democratic socialist, pushed back against Cuomo and cited his years in the New York State Assembly as well as his lived experience in New York.
Mamdani presents himself as “someone who actually paid his rent in the city” and “who had to wait for a bus that never arrived, someone who does his shopping in this city”.
Cuomo responded: “What the congressman said is he has no experience.”
Mamdani replied: “What I don’t have in experience, I make up for in integrity, and what you don’t have in integrity, you can never make up for in experience. »
3. Tensions rise around Israel and Gaza ceasefire
The candidates clashed over Israel and Gaza, with Mamdani once again facing questions over his past remarks on Israel. Cuomo tried to demand that Mamdani denounce Hamas, prompting Mamdani to say: “Of course, I believe that [Hamas] should lay down their arms… All parties must cease fire and lay down their arms.
Mamdani also said that since the primaries, he has learned more, through conversations with Jewish New Yorkers, about anti-Semitism and how the phrase “globalize the Intifada” can be hurtful.
Cuomo repeated his usual lines of attack against Mamdani, suggesting he posed a danger to New York Jews while Mamdani criticized Cuomo for not visiting mosques.
After Cuomo was lambasted for his failure to name a mosque he visited as governor, Mamdani noted that the former governor had only visited one and said Thursday, “It took Andrew Cuomo to be beaten by a Muslim candidate.” [in the primary] set foot in a mosque.
4. Sliwa tried to stand out, without a red beret
Sliwa, the Republican candidate and founder of the Guardian Angels, spent much of the night taking shots at Mamdani and Cuomo. He called Mamdani’s plans and ideas “fantasies,” mocked Cuomo for losing the Democratic primary and went after the former governor over sexual harassment allegations.
Positioning himself as an outsider, Sliwa attempted to distance himself from the political establishment.
“Thank God I’m not a professional politician, because they helped create this crime crisis in the city that we’re facing,” he said at one point.
When Cuomo claimed he was the only candidate on stage who could handle Trump, Sliwa responded: “You think you’re the toughest guy in the world. You lost your own primary.”
In another fiery moment from 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 avoids having to support Kathy Hochul
When all three candidates were asked if they supported Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s re-election campaign, none of them raised their hands.
Mamdani’s response was remarkable, as the governor publicly supported him for mayor.
“I’m focused on November and I appreciate his support and his work,” the Democratic candidate said.
