4 Takeaways From The Final Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate

NEW YORK CITY — The second and final 2025 Democratic mayoral primary debate took place Thursday night.

While 11 candidates took part in the first debate last week, only seven candidates qualified for the debate stage on Thursday.

Andrew Cuomo, Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Adrienne Adams, Zellnor Myrie, Scott Stringer and Whitney Tilson all participated.

The candidates fielded questions about affordability in the city, immigration and the Trump administration, among other issues brought up.

Here are the important takeaways from Wednesday's debate:

1. Cuomo Vs The Field, Part 2

Just like in the first debate, candidates were quick to go after the former governor, forcing him to address his sexual harassment scandal back in 2021 and his handling of nursing home deaths during the pandemic.

During the debate, Lander took a shot at Cuomo, saying: "Leadership is not inviting 25-year-old young women into their office as he admitted he did and then asking them about their intimate life and whether they date older men."

Lander added that he would be reluctant to tell recent college graduates to work in a Cuomo administration, bringing up a recent graduate from City College who was coming to work for a city agency.

“I don’t want to have to tell her, don’t go work at City Hall because the mayor is a sexual harasser,” he said.

Later in the debate, Lander signaled out Peter Arbeeny who was sitting in the audience. Arbeeny's father died from COVID-19 after he was admitted to nursing in New York during the pandemic.

Cuomo said he was "very, very sorry" for Arbeeny’s loss.

The former governor has pushed back on criticism that the decision for nursing homes to take recovering infected patients helped spread the illness and lead to more deaths.

2. Cuomo and Mamdani Spar Over Experience Again

Cuomo and Mamdani once again went back and forth on each other's respective experience and record.

Cuomo used the final debate to highlight the senator's limited political experience.

“This is a man who has done nothing. He’s accomplished nothing,” Cuomo said.

The former governor mentioned his experience in elected office and his accomplishments, including the LaGuardia Airport renovations and the Second Avenue Subway extension.

I think inexperience is dangerous, Cuomo said. “He’s never done any of the essentials, and now you have Donald Trump on top of all of that.”

Mamdani responded, saying: “I have never had to resign in disgrace. I have never cut Medicaid. I have never stolen hundreds of millions of dollars from the M.T.A.,” he said. “I have never hounded the 13 women who credibly accused me of sexual harassment. I have never sued for their gynecological records, and I have never done those things because I am not you, Mr. Cuomo.”

Mamdani also called out Cuomo for mispronouncing his name: The name is Mamdani, M-a-m-d-a-n-i, you should learn how to say it, because we’ve got to get it right.”

3. Lander Shines In Final Debate

Lander had a number of notable moments during Thursday's debate, coming out more aggressive on the offensive. Before the debate, the city comptroller received the most endorsements from the New York Times opinion panel.

Lander called out Cuomo for "cheating" immigrant workers out of wages for the cleaning the subway.

When Cuomo referred to the workers as “illegal immigrants" during this response, Lander cut him off, asking him "What did you call them?”

Cuomo then called the workers “undocumented.”

While the former governor was reluctant to admit fault in his sexual harassment scandal and his handling of nursing home deaths, Lander said Cuomo has "never taken responsibility for one single thing you've done in your entire life."

" You should try it sometime," he added.

Potential Alliances?

Whitney Tilson and Cuomo both took shots at Mamdani for his criticism of Israel.

During the debate, Cuomo asked Tilson about one of Mamdani's economic plans.

“You’re a financial expert, is it feasible and financially possible that he is telling the truth?"

Tilson called them “preposterous.” Adding that it would to an “exodus of businesses and jobs and crush our city”

Later in the debate, Tilson said he'd rank Cuomo his number two candidate.

When asked by reporters after the debate if he was interested in a job with a Cuomo administration, Tilson said he has "no aspirations for a full-time job" — but he would consider a part-time or board position.

Mamdani defended Lander when Cuomo brought up him being from St. Louis.

“Brad Lander is more of a New Yorker than Andrew Cuomo is,” Mamdani said.