Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo dodging an onslaught of jabs and socialist state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani trying to snag a viral breakout moment were among the standouts from New York City’s mayoral Democratic primary debate.
Body language experts weighed in after the Democratic candidates sparred against each other Wednesday in the first debate of the 2025 primary election — as they jostled to outshine in each other in an already overcrowded race.
Here’s what they had to say of the top moments:
A rapidly blinking Cuomo
Despite being the front-runner, Cuomo’s body language clearly shifted as the NBC-Politico debate wore on as he was relentlessly attacked by his fellow candidates over more than two hours.
The former governor, 67, dramatically increased his blinking when peppered with questions about his handling of COVID nursing home deaths and the sexual harassment scandal that led to his resignation, according to Washington DC-based body language expert Christopher Ulrich.
“Initially confident and expressive, Cuomo’s posture changed over time — particularly when he was under attack,” Ulrich said.
“We also saw an increase in blink rate when asked questions about COVID-19 nursing home deaths and sexual harassment.”
The behavior, the expert noted, was a clear sign of “increased psychological discomfort.”
Hand in his pocket
Cuomo was also repeatedly spotted with his hand in his pocket as the going got tough, according to experts.
“While under verbal attack from the rest of the candidates, we see Cuomo keep his hand in his pocket, a self-soothing or protective gesture that often signals discomfort,” Ulrich said.
At various points, Cuomo could be seen staring down at his podium as the attacks continued.
“These unrelenting jabs, that obviously hit his sore spots, ultimately resulted in Cuomo looking down at his podium more than he looked up at the other candidates, the hosts or the camera,” brain and body language expert and psychiatrist Carole Lieberman said.
“To remove himself from the hostility directed at him, he began writing something and concentrated on it, so as not to be disturbed.”
In search of a viral moment
Mamdani, the 33-year-old socialist Queens Assemblyman, repeatedly used wild hand gestures in an apparent bid to steal the spotlight from Cuomo, the experts said.
“[He] employed numerous attacks, including references to Cuomo’s donors and the COVID report, to try to contrast and achieve one of those viral moments,” Ulrich said, adding that he often gestured toward Cuomo when delivering the attacks.
Lieberman noted that Mamdani — who has zeroed in on young, white, ultra-left New Yorkers during his campaign — often used “sensational, dramatic language” on stage at 30 Rockefeller Center.
“He is the wild card in the race, as his hand gestures, pointing in all directions, underscored,” she said. “He was the most animated and determined to outshine Cuomo.”
A statesmanlike performance
A fired up Rev. Michael Blake came off as “very stately” — even as the former Obama administration official consistently hammered Cuomo on stage, Lieberman said.
Ulrich added that Blake, a former Bronx Assembly member, tried to command attention with his Cuomo onslaught.
“Mr. Blake stood out in some of the key moments by demanding Cuomo clarify several of his answers,” he said. “Reporters often picked up on those demands and would repeat Blakes’s clarifying questions.
“By interjecting assertively and keeping others quiet, Blake commanded attention. This approach mirrored techniques used by Trump in the 2016 Republican primary debates,” Ulrich said.
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