Mad-mam-i
Cuomo Torches Mamdani Over Crime, Extremism in Explosive Mayoral Debate
In a fiery three-way showdown, Cuomo slams Mamdani’s policies and rhetoric, Mamdani defends progressive agenda, and Sliwa struggles to stay relevant as the race for City Hall intensifies.
The first major debate in the New York City mayoral race delivered fireworks as Andrew Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani, and Curtis Sliwa took the stage for a high-stakes showdown watched by millions.
The debate, hosted at NY1 Studios and moderated by veteran journalist Errol Louis, exposed sharp divides on crime, housing, ideology, and foreign policy, with Cuomo and Mamdani at the center of most confrontations.
Cuomo Goes on the Attack
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo entered the debate with something to prove, and he wasted no time going on offense.
He directly challenged Mamdani on key elements of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) platform, particularly proposals to decriminalize prostitution and drastically scale back NYPD funding.
“You want to govern this city? Start by keeping it safe,” Cuomo said.
“We’re not going to defund the police or turn a blind eye to quality-of-life issues just to appeal to radical Twitter.”
He also accused Mamdani of refusing to condemn extremist rhetoric, referencing the slogan “Globalize the Intifada,” which Mamdani declined to outright disavow.
“You can’t be mayor of New York City and refuse to condemn that language,” Cuomo said. “You need moral clarity to lead in a city this diverse.”
Mamdani Holds the Line
Mamdani, a State Assembly member from Queens and prominent DSA figure, stood by his pushed back against Cuomo’s criticisms.
“The status quo hasn’t worked,” Mamdani said. “We have to be bold. We have to reject fear-mongering. Safety doesn’t just come from more police, it comes from investment in housing, mental health, and education.”
He declined to explicitly denounce the intifada slogan, stating only that he understood the pain many communities feel and that “the language of protest is always complex.”
Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels and perennial candidate, tried to position himself as a voice for law and order, but struggled to get equal airtime.
While he criticized both Cuomo and Mamdani, he spent much of the debate reiterating his core themes of public safety and anti-corruption.
“I’ve been on the streets for 40 years. I know this city block by block,” Sliwa said. “And I know people are fed up with politics as usual.”
Polls after the debate suggested Cuomo gained ground with moderate and undecided voters, while Mamdani retained his progressive base.
Sliwa’s presence raised concerns among some political strategists that he could split the anti-Mamdani vote, potentially handing the election to the DSA-backed candidate.