The final New York City mayoral debate on Wednesday put Zohran Mamdani under fire from both Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, as the three candidates made their last pitches to voters before early voting begins Saturday for the November 4 election.
The two-hour debate covered issues ranging from public safety and housing to education and the city’s relationship with the federal government. Exchanges grew tense as Cuomo and Sliwa repeatedly questioned Mamdani’s readiness for office and challenged his record on policing and Israel.
Throughout the evening, Cuomo, who is running as an Independent, tried to reassert himself as the most experienced candidate in the race, while Sliwa leaned on his reputation as a critic of progressive politics. Democratic mayoral nominee Mamdani stood his ground, describing himself as the only candidate with a vision rooted in equity and inclusion.
Republican mayoral nominee Sliwa fired one of the night’s sharpest insults when he told Mamdani that his “resume could fit on a cocktail napkin.” He then turned toward Cuomo and said, “Your failures could fill a public school library.” The jabs drew a mix of laughs and gasps from the audience as moderators pressed the conversation forward.
When asked about Donald Trump’s influence on New York politics, all three candidates vowed to resist his agenda. Cuomo drew laughter from the audience when he said, “Donald Trump is hyper-aggressive and will overstep his bounds... He has said he will take over New York if Mamdani wins because he has no respect for him. He thinks Mamdani is a kid who can be pushed around.”
“First we heard from the Republican candidate, and now from Donald Trump’s puppet, Andrew Cuomo," Mamdani quickly countered.
The candidates offered contrasting approaches to the city’s public schools. Cuomo said he would redirect resources away from outside consultants hired by the Department of Education and hire more classroom aides. Sliwa emphasized stricter accountability for educators, while Mamdani argued that children cannot learn effectively without stable housing and consistent access to food.
While national issues have has dominated discussions, Wednesday’s debate turned the focus to city-level concerns. Moderators pressed the candidates for concrete plans on crime, subway safety, and the troubled Rikers Island jail complex.
The discussion also touched on immigration enforcement, with all three candidates criticizing the city’s recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement sweep on Canal Street, which targeted vendors in an effort to remove unlicensed sellers.
Housing and policing emerged as the night’s most debated topics. Each candidate said they would maintain or expand the Police Department, while Cuomo questioned why some rivals had shifted their positions on police funding, sparking a heated exchange on stage.
Questions about Cuomo’s time as governor returned when moderators asked about his administration’s handling of COVID-19 in New York, including guidance that required nursing homes and long-term care facilities to accept patients who tested positive, as well as past sexual harassment allegations. Cuomo denied any wrongdoing, defended his team’s actions, and said the data was not misrepresented, though he acknowledged that communication could have been clearer.
In one of the more striking moments of the night, the debate grew tense when Mamdani noted that Charlotte Bennett, a former aide who accused Cuomo of sexual harassment, was in the audience. He asked the former governor to address how he responded to the women who came forward and the use of taxpayer funds for legal defense. Cuomo rejected the criticism, and said the issue was being used for political purposes and emphasizing that anyone seeking to lead the city must demonstrate seriousness and restraint.
“If you want to be in government, then you have to be serious and mature,” Cuomo said.
