r/VoteDEM • u/20_mile • 5d ago

Zohran Mamdani says he'll skip 'unofficial' debates in NYC mayor's race

https://apnews.com/article/mamdani-zohran-cuomo-nyc-mayor-adams-2019d863e6a9efc0deb0b4b3e9105b8f
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u/20_mile 5d ago

Zohran Mamdani said Wednesday that he won’t participate in any debates in the New York City mayor’s race other than two next month that were organized by the local campaign finance board.

In a video, the Democratic nominee said he’ll skip out on “unofficial” debates that pop up, but that his rival candidates can fight it out between themselves.

“In the meantime, I won’t be at this televised circus,” Mamdani added.

Instead, Mamdani said he would instead bring “town halls directly to New Yorkers struggling to afford their city.”

He is set to appear at a town hall in Brooklyn on Saturday with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a leading progressive who endorsed Mamdani ahead of the primary.

The decision came as other candidates in the race — former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa — have intensified their criticism of Mamdani, a democratic socialist, over his platform and past statements ahead of the city’s general election in November.

Mamdani soundly defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary. Cuomo has since relaunched his campaign as an independent. Adams, a Democrat, skipped the primary to run as an independent in November. Sliwa ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

Great move. The format of the debate has not changed in 70 years, giving each candidate 60 or 90 seconds to try to communicate complex ideas to voters that don't pay attention (for whatever valid or invalid reasons). Town halls are more free-flowing, and a direct back and forth with voters. They allow constituents to speak for extended periods of time, and candidates to respond in turn; even the press gets a shot. Cheering and booing are encouraged. People can bring signs, random "influencers" (ugh) can livestream it to people subscribed to their channel.

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u/da2Pakaveli 5d ago

Lol at how those clowns will end up cannibalizing each other's votes cause they all want power but don't have real political beliefs beyond serving the rich

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u/joelmole79 4d ago

They would rather a Republican win the seat than someone to the left of them.