Andrew Cuomo Faces Criticism in Contentious Mayoral Debate

Tue Oct 21 2025 22:52:48 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The first New York City mayoral debate on Thursday featured former governor Andrew Cuomo defending his record as he seeks to gain ground against frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, who accused him of past failures during his tenure.

In a heated first debate for the New York mayoral election, Andrew Cuomo attempted to counter critiques from Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Cuomo emphasized his experience but faced pointed questions about his previous leadership during the pandemic and allegations of misconduct, while Mamdani attempted to reposition himself as a pragmatic candidate despite criticisms of his leftist agenda. The debate showcased a divide in the mayoral campaign as candidates sought to assert their political identities ahead of the election.

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo entered Thursday evening’s first New York mayoral debate trying to blunt Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani’s momentum. Instead, he spent much of the contentious face-off on defense, batting away criticisms over his long tenure in office from Mamdani and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

Cuomo, now running as an independent, attempted to portray Mamdani's agenda as too extreme, claiming he lacks the experience needed to lead America’s biggest city. Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, countered with pointed attacks on Cuomo’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sexual harassment allegations he continues to deny.

After two hours dissecting how the next mayor would address challenges related to President Donald Trump, quality of life issues, and affordability, the debate left many unanswered questions regarding the impact on voter sentiment.

The stakes were particularly high for Cuomo; this debate was among his last chances to persuade voters that choosing Mamdani, who beat him in this summer's primary, would be ill-advised. This race marks Cuomo’s effort for a political comeback after stepping down from office four years ago amidst a wave of sexual harassment allegations.

Mamdani employed a composed and engaging demeanor throughout the debate, promoting his affordability agenda and trying to present himself as a pragmatic liberal rather than a radical ideologue. His approach has brought increased attention to his candidacy, stirring both excitement and concern among various voter demographics, particularly among centrist and conservative constituents who worry about his policy positions.

The debate illustrated stark divisions among the candidates: Cuomo and Sliwa often collaborated in their critiques of Mamdani, but Sliwa also directed sharp attacks toward Cuomo, highlighting the former governor's political history. With the ongoing scrutiny of Cuomo's past actions and Mamdani's controversial comments, the race continues to attract media attention and public interest.