Second-place Democratic mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani landed several pointed body blows against frontrunner Andrew Cuomo — as the ex-governor slammed him over his inexperience during the candidates’ debate rematch Thursday.
“I have never had to resign in disgrace,” the Democratic socialist shot back to roaring applause from the audience at John Jay College.
Mamdani didn’t let up, hammering Cuomo over the former governor’s record and troubled fallout over his sexual harassment scandal.
“I have never stolen hundreds of millions of dollars from the MTA. 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,” he said.
The socialist firebrand then corrected Cuomo’s repeated mispronunciation of “Mamdani,” which the Queens-born pol rhymed with “mom.”
“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,” he said.
Cuomo, given the chance to counterattack, quickly repeated his pronunciation mistake.
“Mr. Mamdani is right,” Cuomo said, but again butchered his rival’s name’s first syllable. “He’s never done anything.”
“Just say the name, right? Mam-dani,” said Mamdani.
The first debate was largely defined by attacks by Democratic candidates against Cuomo, who has been leading most polls before the June 24 primary.
The pattern quickly reemerged during the rematch, in which Mamdani again landed the first blow.
During Mamdani’s opening statement, he outlined his slate of promises, including freezing the rent, making buses free and delivering universal health care.
“Before you ask: I’ll pay for it by taxing the rich,” he said. “The same ones who are funding Andrew Cuomo’s campaign.”
City Comptroller Brad Lander took a pointed shot at Cuomo’s record when it comes to helping immigrants — leading to a testy exchange.
Lander contended that Cuomo “screwed” hundreds of immigrants who were contracted during the COVID pandemic to clean the subways.
Cuomo denied knowing what Lander was talking about — and made an eye-raising slip up.
“I don’t know what Mr. Lander is talking about,” he said before referencing the MTA hiring “illegals.”
“What did you call them?” Lander asked.
The comptroller continued to hammer Cuomo.
“You cheated them out of the prevailing wages they were due and the health care they were due,” Lander said, drawing applause.
— Additional reporting by David Propper
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