During a recent debate, New York City’s leading socialist mayoral contender, Zohran Mamdani, faced intense criticism from Andrew Cuomo over his stance on condemning Hamas. The confrontation has sparked significant attention.

At 33, Mamdani is ahead in the polls by substantial margins, yet his sharp critique of Israel’s military interventions in Gaza has raised concerns among moderates and conservatives alike.

Cuomo seized the opportunity to portray Mamdani as a potential threat to the Jewish community, focusing on his previous hesitance to denounce the phrase ‘Globalize the intifada,’ which many interpret as inciting violence.

“Why won’t he disavow Hamas?” Cuomo questioned. “He still refuses to renounce ‘Globalize the intifada,’ which implies harm to all Jews.”

Since the primary, Mamdani has clarified that he does not endorse the phrase and advises against its use.

However, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa argued that Mamdani’s response falls short of what is necessary.

‘Jews don´t trust that you are going to be there for them when they are the victims of antisemitic attacks,’ he said.

During an appearance on Fox News earlier this week, Mamdani sidestepped a question about whether Hamas should lay down arms as part of a fragile truce that has paused the two-year Israel-Hamas war.

Socialist New York City mayoral favorite Zohran Mamdani came under fire during a debate when Andrew Cuomo challenged him on his refusal to condemn Hamas

From left, Mayoral candidates Independent candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani participate in a mayoral debate

On Thursday he did not equivocate, saying, ‘Of course I believe that they should lay down their arms.’

Mamdani accused Cuomo of discounting the city’s Muslim community, claiming that it took losing to a Muslim candidate for Cuomo to step inside a mosque.

‘It took me to get you to even see Muslims as part of this city,’ Mamdani said.

Mamdani came under attack straight out the gate, as Cuomo highlighted the 33-year-old’s relative lack of job experience.

Cuomo, stressing his own executive experience, said being mayor ‘is no job for on-the-job training’

‘This is not a job for a first timer,’ he said.

Mamdani hit back at Cuomo´s integrity and decision-making as the COVID-19 pandemic spread through nursing homes.

‘What I don´t have in experience, I make up for in integrity. What you don´t have in integrity, you can never make up for in experience,’ he charged.

Cuomo again tried to characterize Mamdani as dangerous to Jewish New Yorkers by highlighting his past reluctance to condemn use of the phrase ‘Globalize the intifada,’ which is seen by many Jews as a call to violence

Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa speaks during a mayoral debate

Mamdani’s brand of economic populism – a laser focus on lowering the city’s astronomical cost of living through the idea that government should do more to help the lower and middle classes instead of wealthy people – has generated buzz and excitement.

The president, who has threatened to arrest Mamdani, to deport him and even to take over the city if he wins, was invoked early and often.

Pressed on how they would handle Trump, Mamdani said he would stand up to him while also being willing to work with him on lowering costs and affordability.

‘What New Yorkers need is a mayor who can stand up to Donald Trump and actually deliver,’ he said.

Cuomo warned that if Mamdani wins, ‘It will be Mayor Trump.’

‘I´d like to work with you. I think we could do good things together. But No. 1, I will fight you every step of the way if you try to hurt New York,’ Cuomo pledged.

He said Sliwa would not stand up to Trump, and as for Mamdani, the president ‘would knock him on his face.’

Sliwa warned that taking too contentious a tone would end up hurting the city.

‘If you try to get tough with Trump,’ he said, ‘New Yorkers will suffer.’

The underdog candidate found himself caught in the middle – literally and figuratively – with the Republican´s lectern positioned between his two opponents as they lobbed attacks at one another.

At one point Sliwa complained that he was not getting enough speaking time, saying, ‘I am being marginalized out of this.’

At other times Sliwa aggressively attacked both Mamdani and Cuomo, including after the former governor stressed his willingness to take on Trump.

‘You think you´re the toughest guy alive, but let me tell you something, you lost your own primary, rejected by your own Democratic party,’ Sliwa said.

Sliwa has resisted calls to exit the race from Mamdani critics who want to frame up a one-on-one race between Cuomo and Mamdani

So far little has changed the trajectory, including Adams’ departure.

A poll of New York City likely voters conducted by Quinnipiac University in early October, after Adams ended his bid for a second term, found that Mamdani continued to hold a lead over Cuomo. 

The poll suggested that Cuomo may have benefited somewhat from Adams´ departure, but the current mayor´s exit did not appear to have a meaningful impact on the state of the race.

Adams was not included in the poll but remains on the November ballot because he didn´t withdraw his candidacy before a balloting deadline.

The candidates are scheduled to meet for a second and final debate next week.