Mamdani clashes with rivals in fiery debate less than three weeks before NYC chooses next mayor

NEW YORK N Y The three men running to be the next mayor of New York City the largest city in the United States clashed on multiple occasions on the debate stage Thursday night on issues ranging from the war in Gaza to society safety to housing costs Population safety was discussed throughout the debate with Mamdani's past disparaging comments about police and his calls to defund the New York City Police Department taking center stage He believes in defunding the police disarming the police disbanding the police Cuomo mentioned That's who he is Mamdani attempted to distance himself from his past tweets pointing out that they were from HERE'S EVERYTHING YOU MISSED FROM ZOHRAN MAMDANI'S FIRST FOX NEWS INTERVIEWAll three candidates discussed their plans to address the housing situation in New York City with Mamdani's plan to freeze the rent drawing sharp criticism from Cuomo and Sliwa Freeze the rent only postpones the rent Cuomo noted about Mamdani's plan making the situation that numerous of Mamdani's opponents have made that rent freezes would do more harm than good to housing stock Mamdani attempted to distance himself from his past help of regulation to decriminalize prostitution and faced criticism from both his opponents on that subject Mamdani's past statements on Israel were another flashpoint during the debate At one point Mamdani stated of syllabus he supports calling on Hamas to disarm despite dodging questions on that subject the previous day in an interview with Fox News Channel I have denounced Hamas time and time again and it will never be enough Mamdani stated Republican Curtis Sliwa recounted Mamdani Jews don't trust that you'll be there for them when they are casualties of anti-Semitic attacks Experience was also brought up several times in the debate focused on Mamdani and Cuomo making the incident that they were the candidate with the right resume to lead the city going forward This is not a job for a first timer Cuomo noted of Mamdani adding he's literally never had a job Thank God I m not a professional politician because they have helped create this crime situation in the city that we face Sliwa stated criticizing both of his opponents' records Mamdani shot back with a line directly at Cuomo on the experience issue What I don t have in experience I make up for in integrity Mamdani announced to Cuomo What you don t have in integrity you could never make up for in experience With under three weeks until Poll Day Mamdani holds a double-digit lead in the race for the nation's the greater part populous city but Cuomo is narrowing the gap according to the latest citizens polling The tightening contest underscores how Cuomo s independent bid continues to draw aid from disaffected Democrats following embattled Mayor Eric Adams withdrawal from the race ABSOLUTELY A COMMUNIST MAMDANI DODGES LABEL BUT HIS RECORD AND EXPERT SAY OTHERWISE Mamdani the -year-old democratic socialist state lawmaker from the New York City borough of Queens who shocked the political world in June with his convincing win over Cuomo and nine other candidates to capture the Democratic Party's mayoral nomination stands at assistance among likely voters in the preponderance contemporary survey in the race from Quinnipiac University Cuomo who resigned as governor in amid multiple scandals and who is running as an independent candidate in the general voting process after losing the primary had encouragement in the survey which was conducted Oct Sliwa who for a second straight vote is the Republican mayoral nominee in the Democratic-dominated city stood at in the poll Quinnipiac's survey was the only major poll in the field entirely after Adams a Democrat who was running for re-election as an independent dropped out of the race In Quinnipiac University's previous poll conducted in early September Mamdani held a -point - lead over Cuomo with Sliwa at and Adams at Despite Mamdani's lead in the race for Gracie Mansion the democratic socialist has struggled to secure endorsements from national party leaders including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries D-N Y and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer D-N Y CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPMamdani did lately secure an endorsement from Gov Kathy Hochul who joined Mamdani on the campaign trail this week but has since refused to return the favor It's a decision that should be made after this general poll Mamdai commented when petitioned if the candidates are supporting Hochul for re-election