Good morning. It’s Wednesday. Today we’ll look ahead to the Democratic mayoral primary debate, happening tonight at 7 p.m. Below are some pointers for how to watch and what to expect.
Tonight, the New York City mayoral race shifts into high gear with the first primary debate, where the top Democratic hopefuls will vie to be ranked first (or at least fifth) on New Yorkers’ primary ballots. The debate, the first of two, kicks off a 20-day slate of events that comes to a head on Primary Day, June 24. (Early voting starts on June 14.)
What to know
Nine candidates have qualified to participate in tonight’s debate. The biggest names among them are Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York who resigned in 2021 amid sexual harassment accusations; Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens who has charmed constituents and fellow lawmakers alike with his progressive ideas; Adrienne Adams, the City Council speaker; Brad Lander, the city comptroller; and Scott Stringer, the former city comptroller.
Also debating are Michael Blake, a former state assemblyman from the Bronx; Zellnor Myrie, a state senator from Brooklyn; Jessica Ramos, a state senator from Queens; and Whitney Tilson, a former hedge fund executive.
The hot-button issues that candidates may spar over, if their campaign TV ads are any indication, include crime and safety, President Trump, affordable housing and corruption. Other topics that could come up are homelessness, congestion pricing, immigration and public schools.
In April, The New York Times sent the candidates a survey asking them to weigh in on these issues. We also asked them to discuss the one big policy idea they’d like to tackle if elected mayor. Those ideas could provide debate fodder tonight, as candidates question the viability of one another’s proposals.
Cuomo is the race’s front-runner, with the most funding and name recognition. He is also likely to be the biggest target in the debate, as his rivals may look to attack him over the harassment allegations (which he denies) and his handling of nursing homes during the pandemic. They may also seek to paint him as corrupt and out of touch with the city’s working class.
Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election as an independent, will be absent from the proceedings. If Adams comes up in the debate tonight, it could be in reference to his ties to President Trump, or to the various scandals that have dogged his administration, including federal corruption charges against him that were later dropped. Several candidates have seized on the turmoil surrounding the mayor, presenting themselves as better managers of the city.
How to watch
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The debate, hosted jointly by WNBC, WNJU and Politico New York, begins at 7 p.m. and will run until 9 p.m.
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The debate airs live on WNBC-TV, WNJU-TV and Telemundo 47. NBC New York will carry a livestream of the event, and Telemundo Noreste will stream the debate live in Spanish.
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It will be held at 30 Rock, WNBC’s studios in Rockefeller Center. David Ushery and Melissa Russo of WNBC, Rosarina Breton of WNJU and Sally Goldenberg of Politico New York will moderate. There won’t be a live audience.
New York Times reporters will be at 30 Rock before and after the candidates take the stage, and will provide commentary and analysis from the newsroom in real time alongside WNBC’s video stream, so be sure to follow along with our live blog. After the debate, stick around to read our takeaways.
What comes next
The second Democratic primary debate will be held on Thursday, June 12, and hosted by Spectrum News NY1. It is billed as a debate for “leading contenders,” so only those who have raised enough money by the New York City Campaign Finance Board’s metrics will be in attendance. Ramos and Blake did not clear the fund-raising bar to qualify for the second debate.
Weather
Expect a sunny day with a high near 84 degrees. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 66.
ALTERNATE-SIDE PARKING
In effect until Eid al-Adha (June 6).
The latest Metro news
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10 questions with Andrew Cuomo: Mr. Cuomo visited The Times for an interview about 10 themes, from thorny policy issues to how much he pays in rent.
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Newark mayor sues top Trump lawyer: The lawsuit, filed by Mayor Ras J. Baraka, who was arrested last month outside an immigration detention center, accuses the federal authorities of false arrest and malicious prosecution.
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A pastor’s affordable housing mission: Over 200,000 Black New Yorkers have left the city since 2019, many seeking a lower cost of living. One Brooklyn pastor is focused on housing in an effort to keep one of the city’s most storied Black congregations intact.
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Internal clash at Whitney Museum: The museum will not run a prestigious study program after administrators and students disagreed with the museum’s decision not to stage performance art in support of the Palestinian cause. Many have criticized the decision.
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A tour through Gatsby’s Long Island: Though only a fraction of the Gold Coast’s Gilded Age mansions remain, a drive through the area offers a glimpse of the opulence that F. Scott Fitzgerald found 100 years ago.
METROPOLITAN diary
Spooky
Dear Diary:
Someone once told me there are bodies in the Hudson River. I didn’t know him, only that we were entering the same Park Slope housewarming.
“Whole bunch of them,” he said, brushing the dirt off his shoes on the doormat.
“You mean the whole Hudson?” I asked. “Or just the part by the city?”
“Does it matter?” he said. “Point is, there are bodies.”
When I returned to my apartment that night, my roommate asked how the party was.
I told her it was fine but that there were bodies in the Hudson River.
“Doesn’t that frighten you?” I asked. “That frightens me.”
My roommate contemplated, twisting the band still hanging onto her ring finger.
“Well, if anyone has seen those bodies, it’s the fish,” she said. “And still, they return every spring.”
— Sammi Minion
Illustrated by Agnes Lee. Send submissions here and read more Metropolitan Diary here.
Glad we could get together here. James Barron will be back tomorrow. — T.R.
P.S. Here’s today’s Mini Crossword and Spelling Bee. You can find all our puzzles here.
Luke Caramanico, Stefano Montali and Ed Shanahan contributed to New York Today. You can reach the team at [email protected].
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The post What to Know About Tonight’s N.Y.C. Mayoral Debate appeared first on New York Times.
