Cuomo, Nixon face off in contentious debate before Democratic gubernatorial primary
New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s first one-on-one debate in 12 years — against Democratic challenger Cynthia Nixon — was filled with arguments and insults.
Nixon attacked Cuomo for New York City’s troubled subway system and corruption in Albany, specifically mentioning issues with the governor’s economic development councils. An ex-Cuomo aide was recently found guilty of accepting bribes and will be sentenced after the Democratic primary.
Throughout the debate, Nixon repeatedly interrupted Cuomo and accused Cuomo of being corrupted by corporate influence. She also called Cuomo “an Albany insider” and a “cracker jack fundraiser.”
“We already have a corrupt Republican in the White House, we don’t need a corrupt Democrat in Albany,” she said.
In response, Cuomo outlined a new plan to clean up corruption in the state capital, including campaign finance reform and a proposal to restrict state officials from accepting outside income while in office.
The Democratic primary debate in the state gubernatorial race took place at Hofstra University’s Hempstead campus. There were no opening or closing statements, and the candidates had two minutes to answer questions.
Nixon, former star of HBO’s “Sex and the City,” has a history of advocating for public education, LGBTQ rights and marriage equality, and she has said she would support a single-payer health care system in New York state. When asked why she was running, she said she wanted to help the New York public school system she graduated from.
Throughout the debate, Cuomo touted his administration’s efforts to kickstart projects such as the $60 million renovation at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport, which began in late 2017. In early June, the administration announced a new $150 billion investment in infrastructure projects over the next five years.
When Cuomo was asked whether or not the state would consider covering the cost of a proposed $325 million fare hike for the New York City subway, he said he proposed in the past to complete a renovation of the subway system for $800 million, which would be split between the state and the city. Nixon said the state should delay the fare hike and pick up the entire $325 million, but Cuomo argued the city needs to pay its part.
“My opponent lives in the world of fiction, I live in the world of fact,” Cuomo said.
Nixon endorsed statewide legalization of marijuana during the debate, saying the current laws create a racial justice issue that leads to disproportionate arrests of people of color. Cuomo responded that the lack of housing, schools and job opportunities was the cause of disproportionate minority arrests in the state, but admitted that the benefits of legalization outweigh its risks.
New York state has a well-documented homelessness crisis, and Cuomo said the state needs better shelters, mental health services and community residences.
Nixon’s campaign has struggled to keep up with Cuomo’s massive fundraising effort. Compared, Nixon has raised roughly $650,000, according to state campaign finance records, while Cuomo’s re-election campaign has raised more than $31 million.
Voters will head to the polls Sept. 13 to determine New York’s Democratic candidate for governor. The winner of the primary will run against Marc Molinaro, a Republican with no primary challenger.
