Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, impartial candidate for mayor of New York Metropolis, referred to as his opponent and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani “very divisive” and stated he would not perceive the “New York means,” 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 latest Fox Information interview, through which he talked about Mamdani was a twin citizen of the U.S. and Uganda, and stated that Mamdani would not perceive “the New York tradition, the New York values.”
Cuomo stated in response: “You generally is a New Yorker and never perceive New Yorkers, proper? He has been very divisive by this marketing campaign. He has stated issues which can be extremely inflammatory. And that is not the New York means. As a result of you have got the variety that we have now [in New York], you must be very cautious as a frontrunner, 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 assist from a large swath of New Yorkers from many backgrounds, told Davis on Monday that he’s “seeking to serve everybody who calls town house.”
Andrew Cuomo, impartial 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 stated they don’t signify his present views.
Later throughout the ABC interview, talking about his expertise as governor and the way he’d ship for New Yorkers, Cuomo stated he is operating for mayor as a result of he thinks “town is in hassle. I feel it is in actual hassle; I feel cities throughout America are in hassle.”
Citing his time as secretary of Housing and City Improvement underneath President Invoice Clinton, the previous governor stated he’s seeing what others name “the city demise spiral. So I am nervous about New York Metropolis, and I do know that I understand how to make authorities work and really make change.”
Cuomo has confronted latest accusations of Islamophobia from Mamdani after he appeared to agree with a radio host that Mamdani would cheer “one other 9/11.” Cuomo later stated 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 staff, it is [a] $115 billion price range, and it’s a scenario the place on any given day, you’ll be able to take care of any unknown disaster,” Cuomo stated.
Andrew Cuomo, impartial candidate for New York Metropolis mayor, speaks with Linsey Davis of ABC Information, Oct. 30, 2025.
Heidi Gutman/ABC
Citing the probabilities of crises reminiscent of terror assaults, pandemics and pure disasters, Cuomo added, “that individual needs to be prepared. There isn’t any on-the-job coaching. So sure, [Mamdani is] dangerously inexperienced for mayor of New York, I imagine 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, impartial candidate for New York Metropolis mayor, speaks with Linsey Davis of ABC Information, Oct. 30, 2025.
Heidi Gutman/ABC
“Properly, we all know the details there, proper? There was a report achieved. I stated it was political. I stated it was achieved for political causes and that there was no reality or advantage 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 courtroom,” he stated. “I needed folks to listen to the details … I by no means had the chance, frankly, for folks to truly hear the details, however they know the instances have been dropped, and there was no there, there.”
Andrew Cuomo, impartial candidate for New York Metropolis mayor, speaks with Linsey Davis of ABC Information, Oct. 30, 2025.
Heidi Gutman/ABC
Cuomo is operating as an impartial 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 advised Davis, is coping with a schism between left-wing and reasonable Democrats.
“They’ve a extra radical agenda, and I do not assume it is a radical agenda that works,” Cuomo stated. “I do know it would not work for New York Metropolis, and I do not assume it really works for the Democratic Social gathering by and enormous.”
“I imagine 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 stated of Tuesday’s mayoral election.
