Democratic debate for NY-12 between Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Rep Jerrold Nadler and Suraj Patel offers few sparks but surprise comments about Biden

Rep. Carolyn Maloney sought to stave off attacks from challenger Suraj Patel in Tuesday night’s debate for the Democratic primary for New York’s 12th congressional seat, while Rep. Jerrold Nadler appeared to struggle to answer questions on issues from fighting the GOP to vaccine misinformation.

Both Maloney and Nadler called on their long records as Democratic stalwarts to make their case to New Yorkers ahead of the Aug. 23 vote.

“I’m a proven progressive leader with a record of delivering results to the city of New York,” Maloney said, adding a nod to her stance as the sole woman frontrunner in the race: “One thing I have learned in my years of fighting on the front lines of women’s rights is that we will succeed if we never quit.”

She and Nadler were among the New York incumbents most drastically affected by this year’s redistricting process, which combined Nadler’s Upper West Side stronghold and Maloney’s Upper East Side base into one district.

Nadler stumbled right out the gate, with a gaffe about recent years’ impeachments of former President Donald Trump, which occurred while the congressman chaired the House Judiciary Committee.

After blasting the conservative Supreme Court and “insurrectionist” GOP in his opening remarks, he said: “I am leading the fight to stop this, and I have passed two impeachments — I have impeached Bush twice.”

Nadler later made a point of noting he’d “led both impeachments of Donald Trump.”

Patel, a 38-year-old attorney who previously launched two unsuccessful challenges to Maloney, sought to cast himself as a youthful alternative to his two opponents, who have served in Congress since 1992.

“Democrats lead best when we lead with new ideas, energy and a new generation of leadership,” he said. “1990s Democrats have lost almost every major battle to [Senate Minority Leader] Mitch McConnell and the Republicans.”

While Maloney and Nadler mostly went easy on each other, repeatedly noting their record of cooperating in Congress, Patel went on the attack.

Maloney took most of the blows, with Patel accusing her of spreading “vaccine misinformation” that linked vaccines to autism.

“I support vaccines, I support the science behind vaccines, I have worked to bring millions of dollars … for free vaccines,” Maloney retorted.

Aside from the verbal sparring, the candidates aired ideas on hot-button issues from monkeypox to subway safety. Asked whether President Biden should run for reelection in 2024, Patel answered in the affirmative, Nadler was non-committal and Maloney shared a surprising observation.

“I don’t believe he’s running for reelection,” she remarked.

On monkeypox, Patel called for a clearer division of responsibilities among the relevant federal agencies. Maloney said the feds should do a study about how to do better in the next viral outbreak. And Nadler said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should be overhauled.

He and Maloney were forced into a cage fight when a court struck down a Democratic redistricting plan that would have mostly maintained the status quo with their districts.

A special master instead drew one district spanning neighborhoods on both sides of Central Park, effectively setting up a game of chicken between the two powerful lawmakers.

Patel mounted strong challenges to Maloney in both 2018 and 2020, but he performed the best in western Queens and Brooklyn neighborhoods that are not included in the new district.

Whoever wins the primary is virtually guaranteed victory in November in the deep blue district.

With Dave Goldiner