News

Sparks Fly Between Andrew Cuomo & Cynthia Nixon In Debate Before New York Governor’s Primary [FULL VIDEO]

In the only debate before the election for governor of New York on September 13, Governor Andrew Cuomo and his opponent, actress Cynthia Nixon, clashed up in an heated one-hour discussion over health care policy, corruption, tax returns and standing up to President Donald Trump.

At one point, Cuomo asked Nixon, “Can you please stop interrupting?” as she talked over him. “Can you please do that?”

“If you stop lying, I will stop interrupting,” Nixon shot back.

“As soon as you do,” the governor said after a short pause.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.


Cuomo, who was backed up on Wednesday by former Vice President Joe Biden, portrayed himself as a leader against the president, repeatedly highlighting steps he has taken to push back against the White House. But neither candidate fell into the traps the other side tried to lay in advance. Nixon seemed knowledgable on the issues and Cuomo didn’t lose his cool or condescend to her.

SLIDESHOW: DONALD TRUMP’S 30 CRAZIEST TWEETS

Issues both candidates disagreed on were whether public workers should have the right to strike (Nixon is in favor, Cuomo is not), single-payer health care (Nixon is in favor, Cuomo said it should be left to the federal government) and campaign finance reform (both said they were in favor, although Nixon said Cuomo had not made any reforms as governor and would not in a third term).

But both candidates were in favor of postponing a subway fare increase, although Nixon blamed Cuomo – saying that he used the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (M.T.A.) “like his A.T.M.”

According to The New York Times, polls have shown Nixon trailing badly, but her team believes they do not reflect the real political climate among Democratic voters, pointing to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s shocking defeat of Representative Joseph Crowley in New York City in June and, more recently, the nomination of Andrew Gillum, who ran as a strong progressive, for governor of Florida on Tuesday.

Watch full debate:

Steven Abendroth

Recent Posts

Federal Trade Commission Votes To Ban Noncompete Agreements

On Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) banned noncompete agreements in a 3-2 vote. The…

1 day ago

California Bill Would Prevent CLEAR Passengers From Line-Jumping At Airports

A proposed bill in California would prohibit security screening company CLEAR from skipping the general…

2 days ago

Supreme Court Seems Receptive To Laws That Allow Restrictions On Homeless

On Monday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments over a challenge to a law allowing…

3 days ago

Arizona Republicans Block Bill To Repeal Abortion Ban On State House Floor

The Arizona House of Representatives failed to advance a repeal of the state's 160-year-old abortion…

4 days ago

After Oregon Recriminalizes Drug Possession, What’s Next For The State’s Drug Policy

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) signed a bill restoring criminal charges in cases of hard drug possession.…

1 week ago

Biden’s New Regulation Will Limit Toxic Chemicals In Drinking Water Across The Country

President Joe Biden's administration announced the first-ever national limits on toxic "forever chemicals" in drinking water. This…

1 week ago