​Last week Times Opinion published The Choice, a new project to help voters think through their options in high-stakes elections. We brought together 15 New Yorkers of varied backgrounds and expertise to assess the nine leading Democratic candidates for mayor of New York and choose which one would make the best leader for the city.

As part of the process, ​O​pinion editors convened a round-table discussion among the panelists on May 27. The range of viewpoints stood out — to some, Andrew Cuomo ​​offered a steady experienced hand ​and record of accomplishments; to others​, he was a disgraced bully ​with old ideas who should be consigned to ​the past. There was wide divergence on Zohran Mamdani, the ​leading progressive in the race: Is he ​a fresh thinker who could infuse energy and ideas into a calcified bureaucracy or a neophyte​ whose agenda as a democratic socialist would prove unaffordable and divisive?

​And finally there was appreciation for Brad Lander, who emerged as a safe-harbor option, earning the respect of ​m​any panel​ists for his competence and integrity. He ended up as the top choice.

Following are excerpts from that round-table discussion, condensed and edited for clarity. The round table was moderated by ​Bill Brink, Mara Gay and Patrick Healy.

For biographies of the panelists, go toThe Choice.

Q: Give us a phrase or a sentence that tells us what you think is the most critical challenge facing New York for this election. Fred?

Fred Davie: Advancing an agenda that really takes seriously the needs of all the sectors of the city, while doing so in a national context that’s actually hostile to New York City at the moment.

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