In the final mayoral debate for New York City’s upcoming election, the three leading candidates—Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and independent Andrew Cuomo—engaged in a heated and often personal exchange, aiming to persuade voters ahead of early voting starting Saturday and election day on November 4. Held in a packed university auditorium in Queens, the debate was marked by passionate exchanges fueled by a live audience, covering a range of pressing issues including housing, the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, and the city’s relationship with the federal government under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Zohran Mamdani, currently the front-runner according to recent polls with a significant lead over his rivals, was the center of attention throughout the 90-minute debate. Positioned physically at center stage, Mamdani found himself under fire from both Cuomo and Sliwa, with sharp verbal jabs reflecting the intensity of the campaign’s closing days. Mamdani, a progressive Democrat and state assemblyman, did not shy away from attacking his opponents, calling Cuomo “a desperate man” and challenging the former governor’s leadership record. Cuomo, who has a storied political career but is now running as an independent after resigning as governor in 2021 amid scandal, fired back by accusing Mamdani of neglecting his duties as an assemblyman, a claim Mamdani denied.
The debate quickly turned to the candidates’ records and their visions for New York City’s future, with affordable housing emerging as a particularly contentious topic. Mamdani drew criticism from Sliwa and Cuomo for his refusal to take a clear stance on housing ballot initiatives that voters would decide alongside the mayoral race. His hesitation drew jeers from opponents, with Cuomo sarcastically remarking, “What a shocker,” and Sliwa visibly exasperated by Mamdani’s noncommittal response. The moderators struggled at times to maintain order as the candidates frequently talked over one another, prompting NY1 anchor Errol Louis to remind them to respect the debate’s decorum.
Republican Curtis Sliwa positioned himself as the candidate most capable of ensuring public safety, a cornerstone of his campaign. He criticized his opponents’ past records, particularly Cuomo’s tenure as governor, and expressed distrust in Cuomo’s ability to manage the city’s needs—going so far as to say, “I don’t trust you,” during a discussion about the subway system’s state. After the debate, Sliwa remained combative, stating he would be Mamdani’s “worst nightmare” if elected and poking fun at Cuomo’s energy on stage by suggesting he had consumed “a couple Red Bulls” prior to the debate.
The shadow of Andrew Cuomo’s resignation loomed large over the event, with both Mamdani and Sliwa raising the sexual harassment allegations that led to his downfall. Cuomo has consistently denied all claims and combated accusations aggressively. Mamdani directly confronted Cuomo in front of the live audience, noting that one of Cuomo’s accusers was present. He bluntly asked Cuomo, “What do you say to the 13 women who you sexually harassed?” Cuomo responded by pointing out that the cases had been dropped and reiterated his denial of any wrongdoing.
This confrontation was part of a broader pattern of personal attacks throughout the debate. Cuomo also targeted Mamdani by bringing up a controversial photo of the assemblyman smiling alongside a Ugandan official associated with anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Mamdani, who was born in Uganda, defended himself by saying he was unaware of the official’s role in that legislation and criticized Cuomo for lacking concrete policies to protect LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. This exchange highlighted the candidates’ efforts to undermine each other’s credibility while appealing to their respective voter bases.
Federal immigration enforcement also became a significant topic, sparked by a recent raid in New York City’s Chinatown, where federal officers detained several street vendors, igniting outrage among local residents. The moderators asked the candidates how they would handle such federal interventions and navigate the city’s relationship with the White House. In an uncommon moment of consensus, all three agreed that the New York City Police Department should handle issues such as illegal street vending rather than federal immigration authorities. However, they diverged sharply when discussing how to deal with former President Donald Trump’s ongoing political influence.
Curtis Sliwa, the Republican, embraced a negotiation approach, saying, “With Trump, it’s always the art