Cuomo and Mamdani tear into each other in final New York City mayoral debate

Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani bitterly clashed over age and experience Thursday in the final debate before New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, as Cuomo warned that electing the progressive state assemblyman is unprepared for the job and Mamdani hammered the former governor over scandals during his time in Albany.

Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani bitterly clashed over age and experience Thursday in the final debate before New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, as Cuomo warned that the progressive state assemblyman is unprepared for the job and Mamdani hammered the former governor over scandals during his time in Albany. Cuomo, Mamdani and five other candidates squared off just before Saturday’s start of early voting ahead of the June 24 Democratic primary. The fiery exchanges between the universally known Cuomo and fast-rising Mamdani reflected how many see the race as increasingly competitive — and how the two view each other as a threat. Cuomo said it would be “reckless and dangerous” to elect a 33-year-old state assemblyman to a role that requires negotiating with city, state and federal lawmakers, standing up to President Donald Trump, responding to natural disasters and more. Mamdani retorted with a laundry list of the 67-year-old Cuomo’s scandals in the governor’s office, including the sexual harassment allegations that forced him out of office in 2021. “I’ve never had to resign in disgrace,” Mamdani said, while also taking shots at Cuomo’s handling of Medicaid and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “I have never hounded the thirteen women who credibly accused me of sexual harassment. I have never sued for their gynecological records. And I have never done these things because I am not you, Mr. Cuomo.”