Cuomo Dominates First Mayoral Debate, Proves He's Only Candidate with Experience to Tackle Crises Facing NYC
Governor Andrew Cuomo, candidate for mayor of New York City, emerged as the clear winner in the first New York City Democratic mayoral primary debate. Cuomo demonstrated the leadership, command, and experience that New Yorkers know and trust. The debate was held at WNBC’s 30 Rockefeller Center studios, featuring all nine candidates – but it was Cuomo who stood out, offering real solutions to address the affordability and public safety crises while others relied on rhetoric.
During the debate, Cuomo outlined his plans to make New York City more affordable, pledged to improve public safety by hiring 5,000 more police officers, to expand infrastructure projects throughout all five boroughs, and highlighted his long-standing record of raising wages and delivering for New Yorkers.
Statement from Bill Mulrow, Cuomo for NYC Campaign Chairman:
“What you saw on stage tonight was the Andrew Cuomo New Yorkers know and trust—a strong, steady leader who meets crises head on with calm and control. New Yorkers remember his disciplined leadership from decades of experience as a proven manager, as he tackled some of the toughest challenges facing our city. While others played politics and pushed unrealistic, far-left ideas to mask their lack of real results, Cuomo stayed focused on what matters– delivering for New Yorkers. Tonight made one thing crystal clear, leadership isn’t a slogan—it’s action.”
Governor Cuomo brings decades of executive leadership and hands-on government experience to the race for Mayor. Throughout his career in public service, Cuomo has been a champion for working New Yorkers—raising wages for millions, expanding access to healthcare, and protecting the right to organize when the Supreme Court sought to weaken the labor movement. As U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Clinton, he tackled national housing challenges head-on. As Governor, he enacted the nation’s strongest paid family leave program and significantly expanded apprenticeships, vocational training, and workforce development initiatives. Cuomo also advanced the most ambitious infrastructure program in a generation, delivering transformational projects like the Second Avenue Subway, Moynihan Train Hall, the new Kosciuszko Bridge, and the overhauls of JFK and LaGuardia Airports—all built with union labor. His leadership helped usher in a higher minimum wage, historic clean energy laws, and more affordable housing than any governor in state history. When New York faces big problems, Cuomo delivers big results.
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