NYC mayoral hopefuls target Cuomo in first Democratic debate

Left-leaning candidates for New York City mayor piled on frontrunner Andrew Cuomo Wednesday in the first debate of the Democratic primary, criticizing the former governor as unfit to lead the country’s largest city.

In a cascade of attacks, Cuomo’s rivals argued he failed New Yorkers through budget cuts to healthcare, his handling of the COVID-19 crisis and his alleged sexual harassment of women.

Zohran Mamdani, the progressive Queens assemblymember who is polling in second place, wasted little time accusing Cuomo of being beholden to moneyed interests with ties to President Donald Trump.

“The difference between myself and Andrew Cuomo is that my campaign is not funded by the very billionaires who put Donald Trump in D.C.,” Mamdani said, highlighting a pro-Cuomo super PAC that has raised $10 million.

The city’s Campaign Finance Board has withheld more than $1 million from Cuomo’s campaign over suspected illegal coordination with the super PAC, Fix the City.

The debate, which was co-hosted by WNBC, Telemundo and Politico, was the first time Cuomo had appeared on a stage with his rivals. With so many candidates, the debate became chaotic at times, with candidates talking over each other and moderators struggling to maintain order.

The other participants were City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, former Bronx Assemblymember Michael Blake, City Comptroller Brad Lander, Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, Queens state Sen. Jessica Ramos, former City Comptroller Scott Stringer and former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson.

The debate comes 20 days before the primary. Another debate is set for June 12. A recent Emerson poll showed Cuomo with 35% support from voters on the first round of the ballot, followed by Mamdani with 23% and Lander with 11%. According to the ranked choice tabulation, Cuomo beats Mamdani after 10 rounds, 54% to 46%.

Adams, who represents the voter-rich district of southeast Queens, took Cuomo to task when he appeared to suggest that he had no personal regrets.

“No regrets when it comes to cutting Medicaid or health care? No regrets when it comes to cutting child care?” she said, interrupting Cuomo.

Blake, who has struggled to fundraise and is polling at the bottom, competed as if he had little to lose. He tried to knock Cuomo off-balance through frequent interruptions.

"The people who don't feel safe are the young women, mothers and grandmothers around Andrew Cuomo," said Michael Blake, a former Bronx assemblymember. "That's the greatest threat to public safety in New York City."

But Cuomo did not appear to commit any major fumbles and staunchly defended his record.

“We led the way under COVID,” Cuomo said.

But he refused to answer a direct question about whether he was involved in the drafting of a report on nursing home deaths – a key question at the center of a reported Justice Department investigation into whether Cuomo lied to Congress.

Referring to the sexual misconduct allegations from around a dozen women in a state Attorney General before his resignation as governor, Cuomo said, “The report was done. Nothing has come out of it.”

Cuomo is campaigning on a law-and-order message reminiscent of Eric Adams’ platform in 2021. He has described the city as in crisis and argued that his experience as governor makes him the best-qualified candidate to lead City Hall.

He criticized Mamdani as making promises on the campaign trail that he can’t keep.

“Mr. Mamdani is very good at videos, but not reality,” Cuomo said.

“Donald Trump would go through Mr. Mamdani like a hot knife through butter,” he said, pointing to the assemblymember’s scant legislative record and lack of political experience.

Mamdani’s campaign centers on addressing the city’s affordability crisis through free buses, a rent freeze on stabilized apartments and city-run grocery stores.

Mayor Adams, who has opted out of the primary, did not participate in the debate. He is instead running as an independent in the general election.