Cuomo Grilled in NYC Democratic Mayoral Debate

In the first televised debate of New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, front-runner Andrew Cuomo faced intense criticism from his eight rivals over his record as governor, handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the sexual harassment scandal that led to his resignation. The debate, characterized by frequent crosstalk and urgency ahead of early voting, saw progressive challenger Zohran Mamdani press Cuomo on his ties to wealthy donors and Trump supporters. Other candidates debated issues such as affordability, housing, and public safety. Participants also discussed resisting federal overreach, with a focus on protecting undocumented residents and city universities. Cuomo defended his experience and proposals, arguing his rivals lacked the expertise to address threats like those posed by Donald Trump. Despite the attacks, Cuomo remained the frontrunner but was compelled to address both his past controversies and his plans for the city's future.