Mamdani faces grueling attacks from opponents in debate as he leads race

With just below three weeks earlier than New Yorkers elect their subsequent mayor and Socialist candidate, Zohran Mamdani, by double digits, the strain was on the impartial candidate, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, to interrupt via with voters throughout Thursday evening’s mayoral debate.

As such, a lot of the strain through the two-hour debate was on Mamdani.

These had been the 5 most essential moments from the talk.

1. Mamdani turns in opposition to Hamas

In the course of the debate, Mamdani appeared to backtrack on his place on Hamas laying down its arms, saying: “After all I imagine they need to lay down their arms.”

Mamdani was responding to a query from a moderator who mentioned his earlier reply, given to Fox Information host Martha MacCallum, was “complicated” after he dodged questions when she requested whether or not he believes Hamas ought to lay down its arms and go away management in Gaza in accordance with the ceasefire they entered into.

“I’m proud to be one of many first elected officers within the state to name for a ceasefire,” Mamdani mentioned.

“That implies that all events should have a ceasefire and put down their weapons. And the rationale we’re calling for this isn’t only for an finish to the genocide, but additionally for unfettered entry to humanitarian support. I, like many New Yorkers, and I’m hopeful that this ceasefire will maintain.”

CURTIS SLIWA PROVIDES THOUGHTS AFTER THE FIRST MAYORAL DEBATE IN NYC

Unbiased candidate, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, left, speaks throughout a mayoral debate with Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, heart, and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in New York Metropolis. (Angelina Katsanis, pool/AP photograph)

Mamdani was additionally pressured by Cuomo over his refusal to sentence the “from the river to the ocean” and “globalize the Intifada” statements, each of that are extensively seen as requires the extermination of Jews. Sliwa additionally pressed this subject, telling Mamdani: “Jews do not belief you to be there for them when they’re victims of anti-Semitic assaults.”

Mamdani responded that he will likely be mayor for all New Yorkers, saying, “Jewish New Yorkers who’ve informed me about their worry of dwelling on this metropolis, and I will likely be a mayor who lastly does one thing about it, not via the theater of politics on stage, however via motion.”

2. Nationwide Guard not welcome

President Donald Trump’s deployment of Nationwide Guard troops in main American cities additionally loomed giant through the mayoral debate in New York Metropolis on Thursday night.

Candidates had been requested concerning the “menace hanging over town” of Nationwide Guard troops being deployed to New York Metropolis. All three candidates indicated they opposed sending troops to town.

Mamdani asserted that “What New Yorkers want is a mayor who can stand as much as Donald Trump and really ship on safety.”

“When Donald Trump despatched ICE brokers on individuals in Los Angeles, Andrew Cuomo mentioned that New Yorkers do not need to overreact. That is the furthest response New Yorkers are on the lookout for. They’re on the lookout for somebody who will lead, somebody who will say they’ve their again, somebody who will truly struggle for the individuals of this metropolis,” Mamdani mentioned.

Cuomo, in the meantime, mentioned that “the reply within the metro isn’t extra Nationwide Guard,” however somewhat “extra NYPD is the reply.”

NEW POLL REVEALS MAMDANI STILL A DOUBLE LEAD OVER RIVALS IN NYC’S MAYORAL RACE

Unbiased candidate, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, left, greets Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani earlier than taking part in a mayoral debate, Thursday, October 16, 2025, in New York (Angelina Katsanis, pool/AP photograph)

3. ‘Actually by no means had a job’

Cuomo attacked Mamdani’s meager resume, saying, “He has no expertise.”

“This isn’t a job for somebody who has no administration expertise, to steer about 300,000 individuals, no monetary expertise to handle a $115 billion finances,” the previous governor mentioned.

“He has actually by no means had a job. His resume says he interned together with his mom. This isn’t a first-time job. Any day you’ll be able to have a hurricane, God forbid, a Sept. 11, a well being pandemic. If you do not know what you are doing, persons are going to die.”

Mamdani instantly shot again: “If now we have a well being pandemic, why would New Yorkers flip to the governor who despatched seniors to their deaths in nursing properties? That is the form of expertise on provide right here right this moment.”

“What I haven’t got in expertise, I make up for in integrity, and what you do not have in integrity, you could possibly by no means make up for in expertise,” he added.

FIRST ON FOX: NEW SITE REVEALS NYC MAYORAL CANDIDATE ZOHRAN MAMDANI’S ‘RADICAL’ RECORD – IN HIS OWN WORDS

Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks throughout a mayoral debate, Thursday, October 16, 2025, in New York. (AP Picture/Angelina Katsanis, pool) (Angelina Katsanis, pool/AP photograph)

Cuomo dismissed the nursing dwelling digs as a political investigation that “went nowhere.”

4. Defund the police continues to pursue Mamdani

Cuomo additionally knocked Mamdani for previous calls to defund police and statements denouncing regulation enforcement.

“Respect the police. They aren’t racists because the assemblyman calls them, they aren’t a menace to public security as he says, they aren’t anti-queer, they’re right here to guard, work with and empower New Yorkers,” Cuomo mentioned.

Sliwa stepped in at that time to slam Cuomo, saying, “It is ironic that you simply’re now saying… your parole board has launched 43 cop killers again onto the streets. Your father did not launch anybody when he was governor. I knew Mario Cuomo; you aren’t Mario Cuomo.”

In response to Cuomo’s assault, Mamdani mentioned, “As a lot as Andrew Cuomo needs to deliver up tweets from 2020, which is across the similar time he despatched seniors to their deaths in nursing properties, I might prefer to work with cops, to not defund the NYPD.”

Mamdani once more touted his plan to deploy “devoted groups of psychological well being professionals” to the highest 100 metro stations with the very best ranges of psychological well being crises and homelessness.

FINAL STRETCH: MAMDANI’S BIG LEAD SHRINKS AS CUOMO GAINS GROUND IN NYC’S MAYORAL RACE

From left to proper: Mayoral candidates Unbiased candidate, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani take part in a mayoral debate, Thursday, October 16, 2025, in New York. (Angelina Katsanis, pool/AP photograph)

5. No love for Hochul

In a debate filled with candidates continuously interjecting and speaking over one another, the room abruptly fell silent when a moderator requested: “Increase arms. Who helps [New York Gov.] Kathy Hochul for re-election?”

Not a single candidate raised their arms.

Cuomo, who selected Hochul as his lieutenant governor, mentioned: “We have to know who’s on the run.”

Mamdani mentioned: “It’s a resolution that must be taken after this normal election.”

Nonetheless, he famous that he believes Hochul is “doing a superb job, not solely delivering for New Yorkers, but additionally standing as much as Donald Trump.”

“Then help her!” Cuomo intervened. “Why do not you help her?”

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Mamdani famous, “I respect her help and I respect her work,” however mentioned, “I am specializing in November.”

Sliwa expressed help for the gubernatorial marketing campaign of Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., saying “a Republican Mayor Curtis, a Republican Governor Stefanik… save this metropolis.”

Fox Information Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.