ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon sparred over corruption, their tax disclosures and a handful of progressive issues during the lone Democratic gubernatorial debate on Wednesday.

The hour-long, one-on-one matchup at Hofstra University on Long Island was a contentious affair that often devolved into personal attacks, allegations of lying and canned one-liners. Nixon sought to score a knockout punch that would elevate her outsider campaign and Cuomo played defense from a position of strength in the polls. Both candidates expressed support, at least in principle, for a liberal wish list in New York that includes legalized marijuana, single-payer health and campaign finance reform.

From the onset, Nixon aggressively challenged the governor's record in office and touted her experience as an activist on education funding, LGBTQ issues and women's rights.

"I'm not an Albany insider like Gov. Cuomo, but I think that experience doesn't mean that much if you're not actually good at governing," she said, faulting him for the conditions of the subways in New York, Republican control of the state Senate and scandals in the state's economic development sector.

Cuomo brushed off the criticisms, saying the stakes of the job require a qualified candidate.

"The governor of New York is not a job about politics," he said. "It's not about advocacy. It's about doing."

A recurring feature throughout the debate was President Donald J. Trump, who poses the largest threat to New York, according to Cuomo. He cited a litany of state legal challenges to Trump's administration as evidence of his opposition to the president, but Nixon said he mostly just engaged in "rhetoric."

The candidates repeatedly talked over each other from their separate tables on the debate stage, including during a prolonged exchange about disclosing their personal taxes. The governor accused Nixon of not releasing enough of her taxes — she has released five years — while Nixon noted that Cuomo didn't release his 2009 taxes until weeks after winning his first term in office in 2010.

During a back-and-forth about corruption, the debate took a surreal turn.

"You are a corporation," Cuomo said to Nixon, who files taxes as a pass-through corporation. "When you file taxes as a corporation, you are a corporation."

He then asked Nixon if she is a corporation. "I am a person," she replied.

Nixon threw her full support behind a state takeover of health insurance, while the governor expressed concern about the state's implementation costs and suggested the federal government should take the lead.

"It's the right idea," Cuomo said. "It should be explored."

To address corruption in the state Capitol, the governor said he backs a ban on outside income, increased financial disclosure for state officials and campaign finance reform. Nixon said Cuomo hadn't made any progress on cleaning up state government during his time in office, and had instead disbanded an independent commission that was unearthing widespread corruption. The ensuing convictions of top state lawmakers and their conspirators, she said, have overshadowed his administration.

While talking about recreational marijuana, the governor acknowledged experimenting with it in college. Nixon previously said she tried it twice.

The debate also forced the governor to address speculation about his interest in a 2020 presidential run, and he responded that he will serve another four years as governor if re-elected in the fall. "The only caveat is if God strikes me dead," Cuomo said.

The crowd of about 150 people, which included supporters for both candidates, made enough noise during the debate that a moderator had to remind them to be quiet at one point.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro said the Democratic candidates appeared to be running for mayor of New York City against Trump. Independent gubernatorial candidate Stephanie Miner lamented the lack of questions about upstate job creation or the governor's economic development policies.

Before the debate, Baruch College Professor Douglas Muzzio said he was skeptical it would affect the race at this late stage.

"It may already be the bottom of the eighth and [Nixon is] down six to one," he said.

The governor has consistently led in the polls, enjoys a massive fundraising advantage that allows him to spread his message across the state, is backed by the Democratic establishment, and labor organizations are in his corner.

Based on the dynamics of the race, Siena pollster Steve Greenberg said, the stakes were different for each candidate heading into the debate. He said Nixon needed to change the narrative of the race while Cuomo had to avoid disrupting the status quo.

Surrogates for the two sides began sparring in the weeks leading up to the debate.

Nixon's campaign lambasted Cuomo for turning down additional opportunities to meet in a public forum and only agreeing to a format that met his demands, which included no opening or closing statements and that the candidates remain seated. Cuomo campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith shrugged off the concerns as "silly accusations" from a campaign that she said "thrives on paranoia and melodrama."

In 2014, Cuomo had refused to debate his primary opponent and was non-committal after Nixon first challenged him to a televised debate in May.

The primary will take place on Sept. 13.

David.Lombardo@timesunion.com - 518.454.5427 - @poozer87