Five key takeaways from the New York City mayoral debate

"With a large lead in voter polls, Zohran Mamdani fended off attacks from Andrew Como over Gaza, policing and his resume. With less than three weeks before the New York City mayoral race, the three leading candidates have squared off in the first of two televised debates. Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani continues to enjoy a commanding lead in the polls, but the two-hour-long face-off on Thursday provided an opportunity for his rivals to make their case and attempt to close the gap."

"It marked a high-profile victory for progressive Democrats as the party searches for new direction, following a trouncing in the 2024 general election. It also represented a boost for pro-Palestine politics in the US. Mamdani is a vocal critic of Israel and its assault on Gaza, something many mainstream Democrats have been hesitant to speak out about. That made him a potent contrast for Cuomo, who relaunched his candidacy as an independent following his primary loss."

"Cuomo, once a household name in politics, had signed up last year to be part of the legal team defending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against war crime charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Much of Thursday's debate circled around the Mamdani-Cuomo rivalry and their different visions for the city. The third candidate on the debate stage, Sliwa, struggled for airtime amid their harsh exchanges, leading him to describe the scene at one point as a spat in the school yard."

Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic socialist and assemblyman, holds a commanding lead in New York City mayoral polls. He faced attacks from former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa during the first of two televised debates less than three weeks before the November 4 election. The two-hour debate focused on Gaza, policing, and Mamdani's resume. Cuomo relaunched his campaign as an independent after losing the primary and joined a legal team defending Benjamin Netanyahu at the ICC. Mamdani's vocal criticism of Israel and boost to pro-Palestine politics contrasted with Cuomo, while Sliwa struggled for airtime amid the clashes.

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