New York City mayoral candidates clash in final debate before Election Day
NEW YORK (WABC) -- The three candidates running for mayor of New York City clashed bitterly in their second and final debate on Wednesday evening before Election Day.
Democrat Zohran Mamdani tried to maintain his lead and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa cast him as out of his league.
"Andrew Cuomo will spend much of tonight attacking me. He is a desperate man, lashing out because he knows that's the one thing he's always cared about. Power is now slipping away from him," Mamdani said.
Mamdani slammed Andrew Cuomo over a lack of vision but found himself literally surrounded.
"I did things. You have never had a job. You've never accomplished anything," Cuomo said. "There's no reason to believe you have any merit or qualification for 8.5 million lives. You don't know how to run a government. You don't know how to handle an emergency."
"The issue is that we have all experienced your experience. The issue is that we experienced you taking a $5 million book deal while you sent seniors to their deaths in nursing homes," Mamdani said.
"Zohran, your résumé could fit on a cocktail napkin. And, Andrew, your failures could fill a public-school library in New York City," Sliwa said.
Throughout the debate, Sliwa blasted both men as Cuomo and Mamdani bickered over who would best stand up to a hostile President Donald Trump.
"I will fight him every single step of the way," Mamdani said.
"He has no respect for Zohran. He thinks he's a kid and he's going to knock him on his tuches," Cuomo said.
When both men said they still supported keeping juveniles out of adult court, Sliwa was incensed.
"So how can both of you look at me? I almost lost my oldest son to gang violence, and the perpetrators went to family court and got a little pat on the wrist and was sent home to do it again and again," Sliwa said.
For the first time, Mamdani joined the others, saying he had asked Jessica Tisch to continue as NYPD commissioner.
"Commissioner Tisch took on a broken status quo, starting to deliver on accountability, rooting out corruption and reducing crime across the five boroughs," Mamdani said.
Cuomo was forced to defend himself on accusations of sexual harassment.
"The cases were dropped. Right? You know, that is a fact," Cuomo said.
Sliwa spoke on why he hasn't stepped aside, saying "You see the excitement and energy of the working-class people that I represent."
Meanwhile, Mamdani talked about Jewish New Yorkers.
"I look forward to being a mayor for every single person that calls the city home," he said. "Not just those who voted for me in the Democratic primary. Not just those that vote for me in this general election, but all 8.5 million New Yorkers. And that includes Jewish New Yorkers who may have concerns or opposition to the positions that I've shared about Israel and Palestine."
And not long after the debate, the Cuomo team posted a picture on social media of the former governor at the Knicks opener Wednesday night, sitting courtside with - of all people - Mayor Adams.
It is worth noting that Cuomo was the only candidate who said he would accept an endorsement from the mayor.
Sources told Eyewitness News that Adams is considering a joint announcement in the coming days with Black clergy from across the city.
RELATED: Curtis Sliwa remains defiant, says he will vote for himself Saturday: 'I'm in it to win it'
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