The sprawling field of Democratic candidates running for New York City mayor this year faced off for the first time in a debate Wednesday — and front-runner Andrew Cuomo quickly became a punching bag for his opponents during the chaotic showdown.
In one of the first clashes of the night, Zohran Mamdani, who has consistently polled as the runner-up to Cuomo in the June 24 primary, declared he doesn’t “think it’s unfair” the ex-governor is being criminally investigated by President Trump’s Department of Justice over allegations he lied to Congress about his handling of the COVID pandemic.
Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks in the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at NBC Studios on June 4, 2025 in New York City. Nine candidates are taking the stage for the first debate of the primary election for mayor. (Photo by Yuki Iwamura-Pool/Getty Images)
“Andrew Cuomo did lie to Congress,” Mamdani, a democratic socialist Queens Assembly member, declared. He then added that he doesn’t believe Trump’s DOJ is interested in “pursuing justice.”
Cuomo, whose debate appearance marked the first time he has stood side-by-side with his fellow 2025 mayoral candidates, punched back, denying he ever lied before Congress and slammed Mamdani for being “very good on Twitter” but has “actually produced nothing.”
“Donald Trump would go through Mr. Mamdani like a hot knife through butter, he’s been in government 27 minutes … He has no experience with Washington, no experience in New York City — he would be Trump’s delight,” Cuomo said.
In addition to Cuomo and Mamdani, Comptroller Brad Lander, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, ex-Comptroller Scott Stringer, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie and former hedge fund executive Whitney Tilson appeared onstage, as did State Sen. Jessica Ramos and former state assemblyman Michael Blake, although they haven’t qualified for the second debate. The debate was held ar the NBC studios in Midtown Manhattan and hosted by NBC, Telemundo 47 and Politico.
(L/R) Candidates Adrienne Adams, Brad Lander, Jessica Ramos, Zellnor Myrie, Andrew Cuomo, Whitney Tilson, Zohran Mamdani, Michael Blake and Scott Stringer participate in a Democratic mayoral primary debate, at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Center studios in New York on June 4, 2025. (Photo by YUKI IWAMURA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“Kids, it’s grown up time,” Stringer said at one point, trying to get a word in during a segment that was supposed to focus on subway safety policies but became a shouting a match.
Democratic mayoral candidate Scott Stringer speaks during a Democratic mayoral primary debate, at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Center studios in New York on June 4, 2025. (Photo by YUKI IWAMURA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump a topic
Trump came up frequently during the two-hour debate, with moderators pressing the candidates on how they will stand up to the controversial commander-in-chief, particularly on immigration as he seeks to target undocumented New Yorkers for “mass deportations.”
All of the candidates were in agreement there’s a need to fight Trump’s agenda, which has caused widespread anxiety in local immigrant communities and threatened to deprive the city of as much as $10 billion in federal funding for social safety net programs.
Zellnor Myrie, a Brooklyn state senator, offered one potential strategy: Have the city hire far more lawyers dedicated solely to suing the Trump administration and formulating practices for how to block his most controversial policies.
Democratic mayoral candidate Zellnor Myrie speaks in the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at NBC Studios on June 4, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Yuki Iwamura-Pool/Getty Images)
But the predominant theme of the debate was Cuomo facing attacks from the eight other candidates, who laced into him on everything from public safety and education to affordable housing production and the ex-governor’s integrity.
Mamdani said Cumo couldn’t be trusted to regulate industries like food delivery apps when a super PAC supporting the ex-gov’s mayoral run has accepted millions of dollars in donations from those sectors, including $1 million from Doordash.
“I don’t care who gave me what, I do what is right,” Cuomo fired back.
Democratic mayoral candidates Andrew Cuomo, far left, and Michael Blake present arguments as Whitney Tilson, second from left, and Zohran Mamdani look on during in the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at NBC Studios on June 4, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Yuki Iwamura-Pool/Getty Images)
Michael Blake, who is not a competitive candidate at this point, was the most vocal. In response to a question on subway safety, Blake instead raised the multiple accusations of sexual harassment against Cuomo that sparked his resignation in 2021. He deines the accusations.
Democratic mayoral candidate Michael Blake speaks during the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at NBC Studios on June 4, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Yuki Iwamura-Pool/Getty Images)
“The people who don’t feel safe are the young women, mothers and grandmothers around Andrew Cuomo,” Blake said.
The Cuomo pile-on was expected. With significant name recognition in New York, Cuomo has consistently polled as the favorite to win the primary.
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams took issue with Cuomo’s decision to not answer a question about what his biggest regrets as a public official are. “Really, no regrets?” the speaker said, shaking her head after noting that Cuomo at one point as governor cut Medicaid funding.
Democratic mayoral candidate Adrienne Adams speaks during the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at NBC Studios on June 4, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Yuki Iwamura-Pool/Getty Images)
Mamdani, who is consistently polling second in the race, also took some broadsides, with Tilson calling his democratic socialist policies “dangerous.”
Ramos also somewhat surprisingly attacked Mamdani, who has used social media to help build support. Ramos said she regrets not running for mayor in 2021: “I had been in the Senate for two years. I already passed over a dozen bills. I thought I needed more experience, but turns out, you just need to make good videos.”
Democratic mayoral candidate Jessica Ramos speaks during a Democratic mayoral primary debate, at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Center studios in New York on June 4, 2025. (Photo by YUKI IWAMURA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Cuomo focused most of his attacks against Mamdani, who has cut into the ex-gov’s lead in some recent polls. Cuomo noted Mamdani has previously supported calls to “defund” the police and once called former President Barack Obama “evil” on Twitter.
Cuomo also said “there’s no way he’s going to pass” the tax increases on millionaires and corporations required to bankroll his agenda, which includes promises to enact universal child care, provide free public bus service and freeze rent for stabilized tenants.
Cuomo also went after Lander, accusing his wife of being corrupt, saying the comptroller approved hundreds of thousands in contracts to organizations associated with her. While Lander sought guidance and approval from the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board over his office’s review of nonprofit contracts with ties to her organization, Nonprofit New York, it did not lead to anything further.
“It’s lie and you know it,” Lander responded.
“Rather than just even finding one place to say, ‘here’s something I got wrong’ to like tell lies about somebody else’s wife — what kind of person does that?” Lander told the Daily News after the debate. “Not somebody who ought to be the mayor in New York City.”
Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander speaks in the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at NBC Studios on June 4, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Yuki Iwamura-Pool/Getty Images)
Mayor Adams, who has chosen to skip the Democratic primary to ran as an independent in November, told the Daily News on Wednesday afternoon that he’s “got the crown” others are trying to compete for.
“I’m looking forward to their debate as many of them talk about the great work I’ve done,” Adams said.
Originally Published: June 4, 2025 at 9:40 PM EDT
