During the first general election mayoral debate on Thursday, Andrew Cuomo found himself in the hot seat, as Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani and Republican contender Curtis Sliwa launched a barrage of criticisms against the former governor. They targeted Cuomo on various issues, including his dependence on billionaire donors and what Mamdani portrayed as an overly cozy relationship with former President Trump.

Cuomo, who is running as an independent in the upcoming November 4 mayoral election, responded primarily to Mamdani’s attacks. He argued that the 33-year-old democratic socialist lacks the requisite experience to lead the city and accused him of holding extreme views on taxation, defunding the police, and the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“His divisiveness is chronic,” Cuomo remarked during the lively two-hour debate, which took place at the NBC studios in 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

To support his claims, Cuomo referenced Mamdani’s previous endorsement of defunding the NYPD—a stance Mamdani has since revised as a mayoral candidate. Cuomo also criticized Mamdani’s perceived harsh position on Israel, particularly his hesitation during a recent TV appearance to urge Hamas to disarm and his apparent reluctance to affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.

This comment about Hamas caused Mamdani to pivot from his earlier stance. “Of course I believe that they should lay down their arms,” stated Mamdani, a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights.

Throughout the debate, Mamdani, often with support from Sliwa, contended that Cuomo represents the entrenched status quo, a leadership style that he argues is misaligned with the needs of New Yorkers amidst a rising cost of living crisis and threats of funding cuts from the Trump administration.

“If you want more of the same, vote for Andrew Cuomo,” Mamdani said, accusing him of lacking “integrity,” citing, among other things, his resignation as governor in 2021 amid sexual and professional misconduct accusations he now denies.

Slliwa, who’s polling in third place behind Cuomo and Mamdani, blasted both his opponents. But keen to attract some of Cuomo’s politically moderate supporters, Sliwa singled out Cuomo as his main target, tearing into him over public safety reforms he enacted as governor and also questioning whether he’d be able to work with Trump or stand up to him.

“You think you’re the toughest guy around,” Sliwa told Cuomo, seeking to ridicule his claim that he’s best equipped to deal with Trump because of his long record in government.

“I agree with Curtis,” added Mamdani, who accused Cuomo of being “Trump’s puppet,” citing overlapping donors as well as the president’s apparent preference for the ex-governor’s campaign. Trump was reportedly engaged in  efforts to push Mayor Eric Adams to exit the race as part of an effort to make it easier for Cuomo to take on Mamdani.

It made for an unusual dynamic, as the front-runner in a mayoral race is typically the main target in a debate setting.

According to polls, the Nov. 4 election remains Mamdani’s to lose. They show him edging out Cuomo by 13% and Sliwa by 30% in the most recent survey of the race conducted earlier this month by Quinnipiac University. Thursday’s debate, which at times delved into deeply personal issues like Mamdani’s religion and Cuomo’s family history, came just over a week before early voting begins Oct. 25.

This year’s campaign is no typical mayoral race, as Cuomo, a life-long Democrat, runs as an independent in the Nov. 4 election even though he lost June’s Democratic mayoral primary to Mamdani by a 12% margin. Mayor Adams, who was also running as an independent, abandoned his bid for reelection last month amid record low approval ratings.

The race has also become a test for the two ideological factions of the Democratic Party, with Cuomo representing the more moderate, tradiitonal guard, while Mamdani has emerged as an icon for the left-wing since his upset primary victory.

That theme came up repeatedly during Thursday’s night debate, as Cuomo tried to make the case Mamdani isn’t a real Democrat.

“You’re not a Democrat, you’re a democratic socialist,” he fumed at Mamdani before accusing him of not supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Mamdani affirmed he did vote for Harris and later declared: “Mr. Cuomo lies again and again and again.”

While he mostly focused his ire on Cuomo, Sliwa did join the ex-gov in knocking Mamdani’s affrodability agenda as unrealistic. The Democratic nominee’s agenda includes promises to freeze the rent for stabilized tenants, make public buses free and drastically expand subsidized child care, all of it bankrolled by tax hikes on millionaires and corporations that would need to be approved by the state.

“Your fantasies are never going to come about,” Sliwa told Mamdani.

One of the most tense moments of the debate was when Cuomo accused Mamdani of not being “representative of the Muslim community.”

Mamdani, who’d become the first Muslim mayor in New York history if elected, said it was “shameful” for Cuomo to deliver that line of attack.

On a lighter note, the candidates found some agreement when the moderators asked for their favorite mayor in New York City. Both Mamdani and Cuomo named Fiorello LaGuardia, while Sliwa offered up Rudy Giuliani.

Before the debate, Mamdani led a march from Trump Tower to the 30 Rock studios that included dozens of supporters, some of whom played brass instruments while chanting “Zohran, Zohran, Zohran.”

“I’m very excited at the opportunity to take on Donald Trump’s puppet — and I’m not talking about Curtis Sliwa,” Mamdani told reporters before walking into 30 Rock.

Originally Published: October 16, 2025 at 9:55 PM EDT