!["New Yorkers didn't tune in tonight to hear us fight with each other": Democratic candidates for NYC mayor spar in feisty final debate](https://cbsnews2.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2021/06/17/c7a55c32-63cd-42f6-9b90-9283ef7d6c26/thumbnail/1200x630/81784399616c47ea4c387b56d7e95a43/gettyimages-1233494823.jpg)
"New Yorkers didn't tune in tonight to hear us fight with each other": Democratic candidates for NYC mayor spar in feisty final debate
CBSN
In the final debate before primary day, eight leading Democrats running for New York City mayor frequently devolved into bickering in a rapid-fire format on Wednesday in NBC's Studio 8H, the home of the iconic show "Saturday Night Live." The debate was one of the last chances for candidates to make their closing arguments to voters before primary day on June 22. Tens of thousands of voters have already cast ballots during early voting or via absentee ballots.
Former Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan, who has been toward the bottom of nearly every poll, tried to sum up the night when he said: "New Yorkers didn't tune in tonight to hear us fight with each other." But the other candidates didn't seem to follow that advice, with punches and barbs being thrown most of the night. Andrew Yang, who was the front-runner early in the race, but has seen his stock fall, took a shot at Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, who is now leading polls, when asked why Yang secured an endorsement from the NYPD Captain's union, when Adams was a former captain in the department.![](/newspic/picid-6252001-20250216030556.jpg)
This story previously aired on Feb. 10, 2024. It was updated on Feb. 15, 2025. AMIE HARWICK (video): You can seek therapy to address an issue like depression, anxiety, a breakup. You can also seek therapy to be a better you! GARETH PURSEHOUSE (voicemail): I have so much I need to say. Please give me a chance to just say it. … Please (crying) please.
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