These debate questions made it hard for NYC mayoral candidates to BS

No rambling, rebuttals, or soap-box speeches here. At the first official mayoral debate of the Democratic primary Wednesday night, moderators David Ushery, Melissa Russo, Sally Goldenberg, and Rosarina Bretón posed a few questions to the candidates that defied their ability to hedge or reframe. Here are the nine candidates’ answers to a few of the most revealing of those simple questions. 

Question: How much do you pay in rent?

Context: Housing affordability is one of the main issues on the ballot as the city continues to face a housing crisis. In 2023 the overall rental vacancy rate hit a historic low of 1.4% and the affordable housing vacancy rate fell below 1%. According to the New York City Comptroller’s office, median asking rent rose to a record high of $3,500 per month citywide in 2023. Evidently most of the candidates spend less than in either rent or mortgage payments. 

Cuomo: $7800 Mamdani: $2300 rent 

Lander: $3300 mortgage 

Stringer: $6400 

Adams: “Our home is paid. I’m a homeowner.”

Myrie: Rent-stabilized $1300

Ramos: $2500

Blake: $1800 mortgage 

Tilson: Own and spend $5000 per month on maintenance and taxes

Question: Who did you vote for in the 2021 mayoral election?

Context: Despite Eric Adams’ federal indictment, 19% favorable rating, and being Adrienne Adams’ biggest regret of the 2021 mayoral primaries, Cuomo still would have voted for him. He wasn’t a New York City resident at the time. The former governor has faced criticism from his opponents that he is an Eric Adams reincarnate from a policy standpoint. Most of the candidates voted for progressive Maya Wiley, who finished third overall in the 2021 primary after ranked-choice voting tabulation. Scott Stringer, the only candidate who ran in 2021, had to listen to each of his opponents tell him to his face that they didn’t vote for him. 

Cuomo: *would have voted for* Eric AdamsMamdani: Maya Wiley

Lander: Maya Wiley first, Kathryn Garcia second

Stringer: Himself

Adams: Eric Adams (her “biggest regret”) first, Maya Wiley second, Kathryn Garcia third

Myrie: Maya Wiley 

Ramos: Maya Wiley

Blake: Maya Wiley

Tilson: Kathryn Garcia

Question: Who is the most effective Democrat in the country? 

Context: Democrats are increasingly frustrated with their own party – only 63% of Democrats view the party favorably compared to 81% at the start of Biden’s presidency. For the most effective Democrat nationwide, there was no mention of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Sen. Bernie Sanders from any of the candidates including Mamdani, who received her endorsement the morning of June 5 following the debate. 

Cuomo: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Mamdani: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu

Lander: Wu

Stringer: Jeffries 

Adams: Jeffries 

Myrie: State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins

Ramos: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore 

Blake: Himself

Tilson: Sen. Corey Booker

Question: Where would you go first for your first foreign visit as mayor? 

Context: Although this was the 2025 New York City mayoral debate, the war in Israel and Gaza made its way into the conversation in response to this question. Cuomo, Stringer and Tilson all said they would go to Israel, and Adrienne Adams would go to the slightly more ambiguous “holy land.” After responding that he would stay in New York City, Mamdani was grilled about his stance on Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. He said Israel has a right to exist as a “state with equal rights.”

Cuomo: Israel Mamdani: I would stay in New York City

Lander: Canada

Stringer: Israel 

Adams: “The holy land”

Myrie: The Caribbean 

Ramos: Colombia

Blake: Jamaica 

Tilson: Israel then Ukraine

Question: Do you believe that Mahmoud Khalil should be set free or deported? 

Context: Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian student activist at Columbia University and lawful permanent resident of the United States, in March. Many have criticized Mayor Eric Adams’ relative lack of pushback or condemnation surrounding Khalil’s detention. Most of the candidates agreed that Khalil’s detention was unconstitutional and called for his release, including most of the outspoken supporters of Israel. 

Cuomo: Released Mamdani: Released

Lander: Released 

Stringer: Released 

Adams: Released 

Myrie: Released

Ramos: Released 

Blake: Released 

Tilson: The Trump administration needs to prove he is legitimately tied to terrorism through due process or else he must be released