A total of nine candidates competing to replace Adams made it to the stage.
A crowded field of Democrats took to the debate stage on June 4 to vie for their party’s nomination to lead New York City as mayor.
The party has been rocked by since-withdrawn corruption charges filed against Mayor Eric Adams by the Biden administration and by an electorate that has become more socially conservative on key issues such as policing, public safety, and criminal justice.
With Adams running as an independent—after what he said was a “bogus case” against him—threatening to split the Democratic vote, tensions are high among New York City Democrats.
A total of nine candidates competing to replace Adams made it to the stage, presenting competing visions for the city’s future and making promises about the reforms they’ll institute if elected.
The Democratic primary, to be held on June 24, will be decided by ranked-choice voting. Voters will choose up to five candidates, and the lowest performers will be eliminated until one candidate achieves 50 percent, making it difficult to predict the final outcome with much certainty.
Here are the takeaways from the night.
The Front-Runner: Former Gov. Cuomo
Easily the biggest name to a national audience was former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned from the state’s top job in 2021 amid mounting sexual harassment allegations. Cuomo has denied these allegations, saying during the debate that they were “political and false.”
Cuomo entered the night far and away the front-runner—in part boosted by nearly $6 million in PAC spending so far out of more than $10.7 million raised, according to the New York City Campaign Finance Board.
Emerson College polling released on May 28 also shows Cuomo with a sizable lead, at 35 percent of the vote as of May 28.
Thus, Cuomo was the target for most other candidates on the stage—alongside Adams. He sought to present himself as a centrist and a moderate with the experience for the post.
The Challenger: State Rep. Zohran Mamdani
Despite Cuomo’s significant advantages, progressives have thrown their hopes behind another candidate: state Rep. Zohran Mamdani.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has won the endorsement of the Working Families Party, which has a relatively influential position among progressives in the city. The group has declared a goal of defeating both Adams and Cuomo, a strategy they’ve dubbed “D.R.E.A.M.,” or “Don’t Rank Eric or Andrew for Mayor.”
In Emerson’s May 28 poll, Mamdani is the runner-up, with 22.7 percent support.
Cuomo and others attacked Mamdani for his previous comments in support of defunding the police and criticism of NYPD officers.
By Joseph Lord
