Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, unbiased candidate for mayor of New York Metropolis, known as his opponent and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani “very divisive” and mentioned he would not perceive the “New York manner,” throughout a wide-ranging interview with “ABC Information Stay Prime” anchor Linsey Davis just days before Election Day.
Throughout the interview, Davis requested Cuomo about feedback he made throughout a current Fox Information interview, by which he talked about Mamdani was a twin citizen of the U.S. and Uganda, and mentioned that Mamdani would not perceive “the New York tradition, the New York values.”
Cuomo mentioned in response: “You is usually a New Yorker and never perceive New Yorkers, proper? He has been very divisive by means of this marketing campaign. He has mentioned issues which are extremely inflammatory. And that is not the New York manner. As a result of you could have the variety that we now have [in New York], you need to be very cautious as a pacesetter, to not inflame division.”
ABC Information has reached out to Mamdani’s marketing campaign for touch upon Cuomo’s declare.
Mamdani, who has emphasised receiving help from a large swath of New Yorkers from many backgrounds, told Davis on Monday that he’s “trying to serve everybody who calls town residence.”
Andrew Cuomo, unbiased candidate for New York Metropolis mayor, speaks with Linsey Davis of ABC Information, Oct. 30, 2025.
Heidi Gutman/ABC
Watch Linsey Davis’ interview with New York Metropolis mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo, streaming on ABC Information Stay Prime at 8:00-8:30 p.m. ET on All Entry with Linsey Davis and on Disney+ and Hulu.
Cuomo introduced up some earlier statements of Mamdani’s, together with calling the New York Metropolis Police Division “racist” and “depraved.” Mamdani has since apologized for these remarks and mentioned they don’t symbolize his present views.
Later throughout the ABC interview, talking about his expertise as governor and the way he’d ship for New Yorkers, Cuomo mentioned he is working for mayor as a result of he thinks “town is in bother. I feel it is in actual bother; I feel cities throughout America are in bother.”
Mentioning his time as secretary of Housing and City Improvement underneath President Invoice Clinton, the previous governor mentioned he’s seeing what others name “the city dying spiral. So I am anxious about New York Metropolis, and I do know that I understand how to make authorities work and truly make change.”
Cuomo has confronted current accusations of Islamophobia from Mamdani after he appeared to agree with a radio host that Mamdani would cheer “one other 9/11.” Cuomo later mentioned he thought the host was joking and that the host’s comment was offensive, however that Mamdani was being divisive and falsely alleging Islamophobia.
Davis requested him what he would say to Muslim New Yorkers offended by the remark and who described his response to the radio host as Islamophobic.
“The Muslim neighborhood did not say that. I used to be simply endorsed by main leaders of the Muslim neighborhood,” Cuomo responded.
“What I used to be saying is, he’s inexperienced, proper … Being mayor is a sophisticated job. It is 300,000 workers, it is [a] $115 billion price range, and it’s a scenario the place on any given day, you possibly can take care of any unknown disaster,” Cuomo mentioned.
Andrew Cuomo, unbiased candidate for New York Metropolis mayor, speaks with Linsey Davis of ABC Information, Oct. 30, 2025.
Heidi Gutman/ABC
Mentioning the chances of crises akin to terror assaults, pandemics and pure disasters, Cuomo added, “that particular person must be prepared. There isn’t any on-the-job coaching. So sure, [Mamdani is] dangerously inexperienced for mayor of New York, I consider it.”
Throughout the first mayoral general election debate, Mamdani responded to Cuomo’s assaults on his expertise, saying, “What I haven’t got in expertise, I make up for in integrity, and what you do not have in integrity, you would by no means make up for in expertise.”
Cuomo is trying a political comeback after resigning as governor in 2021 following sexual harassment allegations, which he has denied.
On the second mayoral debate earlier this month, Mamdani referenced the ladies who’ve accused Cuomo of harassment.
Davis, citing that second, requested Cuomo if all the girls who made the accusations have been mendacity.
Andrew Cuomo, unbiased candidate for New York Metropolis mayor, speaks with Linsey Davis of ABC Information, Oct. 30, 2025.
Heidi Gutman/ABC
“Effectively, we all know the information there, proper? There was a report performed. I mentioned it was political. I mentioned it was performed for political causes and that there was no truth or benefit to it. That was my assertion,” Cuomo responded throughout his interview with Davis, including that the instances towards him have been dropped and have been “political”.
He added later throughout the ABC interview, “Mendacity is a harsh phrase. However was there any harassment? No, and that is why I needed my days in court docket,” he mentioned. “I needed individuals to listen to the information … I by no means had the chance, frankly, for individuals to truly hear the information, however they know the instances have been dropped, and there was no there, there.”
Andrew Cuomo, unbiased candidate for New York Metropolis mayor, speaks with Linsey Davis of ABC Information, Oct. 30, 2025.
Heidi Gutman/ABC
Cuomo is working as an unbiased on the “Battle and Ship” poll line after losing the Democratic primary in June to Mamdani. However he has emphasised that he nonetheless identifies with the Democratic Social gathering — which, he instructed Davis, is coping with a schism between left-wing and average Democrats.
“They’ve a extra radical agenda, and I do not suppose it is a radical agenda that works,” Cuomo mentioned. “I do know it would not work for New York Metropolis, and I do not suppose it really works for the Democratic Social gathering by and huge.”
“I consider it is an election that determines the way forward for New York Metropolis. I feel it determines the way forward for the Democratic Social gathering,” Cuomo mentioned of Tuesday’s mayoral election.
