In the final audition to voters before voting begins in the New York City Democratic primary for mayor, almost everyone took turns taking shots at front-runner former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The debate, which was expected to be contentious in a race growing increasingly close between Cuomo and socialist state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, saw the former governor attacked for his sexual harassment allegations, nursing home scandal, and other issues.
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The debate was similar to the first one held last week in some ways. But the attacks on Cuomo were louder and more intense.
Mamdani took the lead after Cuomo said he’s inexperienced and that “inexperience is dangerous” for a politician.
“To Mr. Cuomo, I have never had to resign in disgrace,” Mamdani said. “I have never cut Medicaid. I have never stolen hundreds of millions of dollars from the MTA. I have never hounded the 13 women who credibly accused me of sexual harassment. I have never sued for their gynecological records, and I have never done those things because I am not you, Mr. Cuomo.”
I'm proud I don't have Andrew Cuomo's record of corruption, scandal and disgrace.
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) June 12, 2025
And the name is M-A-M-D-A-N-I. pic.twitter.com/UTDGOF0bCq
He didn’t stop there, correcting Cuomo’s pronunciation of his name. “And furthermore, the name is Mamdani,” he said.
The attacks often overshadowed questions about how each candidate would handle the city’s issues. One question was aimed at Cuomo specifically, saying, “Many voters are grappling with how to disqualify you, or not, after the sexual harassment findings that led to your resignation as governor. How do you argue people consider that factor?”
Cuomo said people should “look at the facts” and not rhetoric. He said the report was all “political” and suggested he’s been absolved of the allegations.
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, who is toward the bottom of the mayoral pack in polling, said the allegations should be “disqualifying” for Cuomo. City Comptroller Brad Lander said he doesn’t want to tell the valedictorian of a New York City college not to go work for the city “because the mayor is a sexual harasser.”
Lander has polled third in most surveys. He recently nabbed the endorsement of the New York Times opinion panel and is likely trying to capitalize on that momentum in the race.
He also caught Cuomo saying “illegal immigrants” in an exchange about immigration as opposed to the Democratic Party’s preferred “undocumented immigrants.”
“What did you call them?” Lander asked before Cuomo changed to the preferred term. Lander also brought the son of a nursing home resident who died during the pandemic with Cuomo as governor, and Cuomo apologized to him but did not admit responsibility. “Will you finally apologize to Peter and other grieving New Yorkers, or will you keep gaslighting them with blather about what a great job you did?” Lander asked Cuomo.
Mamdani had even come to Lander’s defense at times, calling him “more of a New Yorker” than Cuomo. Lander is originally from St. Louis.
A Democratic strategist told the New York Times that the duo effectively combated Cuomo. “Brad Lander and Zohran Mamdani teamed up very effectively to undercut Cuomo’s managerial arguments, and exploit Cuomo’s weaknesses. Brad continues to demonstrate his deep knowledge of city government, and Zohran is bringing his trademark wit and charisma,” Trip Yang said.
Mamdani faced some fire himself. Whitney Tillson, who later endorsed Cuomo as his second-ranked choice pick, slammed Mamdani as a near-antisemite because he allegedly incited anti-Israel protests. The socialist has called the war in Gaza a genocide and has supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.
Mamdani responded by saying there are Jews and Israelis who agree with his criticisms of Israel.
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams was praised by former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for her opening statement, but the other candidates took center stage and are ahead of her in the polls. Former City Comptroller Scott Stringer said his government experience is why voters should support him, much like Cuomo. He also clarified that he is a Zionist and that BDS is antisemetic.
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There wasn’t a clear consensus on who won the seven-person debate, which excluded Michael Blake and state Sen. Jessica Ramos, who endorsed Cuomo. “Mamdani emerges as victor, Cuomo flames out,” Mamdani’s campaign said, while Lander said he was “the clear and obvious standout.”
In a statement shared with the Washington Examiner, the Cuomo campaign said he was the “clear winner” and that he “swept” both mayoral debates. “Cuomo demonstrated the poise, experience, and vision that New Yorkers remember and trust,” they said.
The New York City Democratic primary for mayor will be held June 24, with early voting starting this weekend.