4 NYC mayoral debate highlights: From Mamdani's Hamas views to Cuomo's COVID response

2. Cuomo, Mamdani spar over Muslim community

During the debate, Cuomo was questioned about his relationship with New York City's Muslim community, his strong support for Israel and past accusations against Assemblyman Mamdani, whom he called a "terrorist sympathizer."

The moderator asked Cuomo, "How do you assure those New Yorkers, especially Muslims and Arab New Yorkers, that you will be a mayor for all?"

"I don't think in any way the assemblyman is representative of the Muslim community, which is a vital community in New York City. And I am very fond of it, and I've been working with it," he said. "I think he's playing his own politics. Many of his positions don't even follow the Muslim faith. So, I see them as two totally separate things."

In response, Mamdani slammed Cuomo for failing to recognize the more than 750,000 Muslims living in New York City. 

"It took Andrew Cuomo being beaten by a Muslim candidate in the Democratic primary for him to set foot in a mosque," said Mamdani. "He had more than 10 years, and he couldn't name a single mosque at the last debate we had that he visited. And what Muslims want in this city is what every community wants and deserves. They want equality, and they want respect."