Days before early voting begins, New York City’s three mayoral candidates are gearing up for their final showdown. See live updates here.
New York City’s three mayoral candidates are gearing up for their final showdown just days before early voting begins.Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, Independent contender and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa will take the stage Wednesday night for the last debate of the race, one final chance to make their case to New Yorkers before ballots open.
The debate begins at 7 p.m.Follow along for live updates and key moments as the debate unfolds.SKIP TO: Live updates | Meet the candidates | PollsWith Mamdani holding a commanding lead in the polls, Cuomo and Sliwa face mounting pressure to make their case to voters on issues like crime, affordability and leadership.The debate follows days of mounting pressure on Sliwa to drop out amid polls showing a tighter race without him.The two-hour debate, hosted by Spectrum NY1, The City, and WNYC/Gothamist, is expected to spotlight the city’s biggest concerns, affordability, crime, and leadership, as the crowded field narrows and the stakes reach their peak.The debate takes place LaGuardia Community College in Queens.It will be available on their livestream here.Follow along for live updates and key moments as the debate unfolds.7:41 p.m.Sliwa answers questions about having name recognition throughout the city but lagging in the polls. 7:40 p.m.Cuomo answers question about why he resigned as governor. He claims it was because he didn't want to be a distraction as there was an ongoing investigation into him based on "allegations against him."7:33 p.m. Mamdani answers questions about being denounced by rabbis and some in the Jewish community. He went on to reference meeting a Jewish mother who said she wouldn't support him and said he would be willing to work with the Jewish community when elected. Cuomo interrupted and said it wasn't several rabbis, it was over 600. "You're the savior of the Jewish people? You won't denounce globalized antifada, which means kill Jews," Cuomo said.7:32 p.m.When asked if he supported the ballot amendment questions, Mamdani said he didn't have an opinion. Both Sliwa and Cuomo began yelling "answer the question."7:27 p.m. Candidates talk about how to increase housing and developments. Cuomo argued he would be the best candidate for housing and development and referenced how he built LaGuardia in 4 years. Sliwa said he's the only candidate that is against "The City of Yes" because he doesn't agree with making deals with developers.Mamdani said that he would aim to build more housing by making sure the public sector was into consideration. 7:22 p.m.Candidates are asked about rent. Mamdani stood by his plan to freeze rents and increase stabilize apartments.Sliwa attacked Mamdani for living in a subsidized apartment and said he would begin with the vacancies across the city and increase tenant rights. Cuomo attacked Mamdani and then said he would freeze the rent as well, but then said that it would ultimately be up to the Rent Guidelines Board.7:16 p.m. Candidates are asked about homelessness.7:13 p.m.Candidates are asked about President Trump and how they plan to work with him. "Trump wants Mamdani," Cuomo argues. Mamdani called Cuomo Trump's "puppet."7:09 p.m.Candidates are asked about the ICE raid on Canal Street on Tuesday. Cuomo says he would've should up to Trump and the federal government. Mamdani says he wouldn't work with Trump in a case like this.Sliwa attacked both Cuomo and Mamdani for supporting no cash bail, which he argues has made Canal Street a challenge for the NYPD. 7:07 p.m.Mamdani begins his opening statements. "He's a desperate man," Mamdani began by speaking of Cuomo, who he claims will spend the night attacking him. 7:05 p.m.Cuomo began with his opening statements. " Go Knicks," Cuomo began, before then going into an attack on Mamdani, saying that he will hire more police and end the "hate mongering" that he claims is ruining the city. 7:04 p.m.Sliwa began with his opening statement. "It's us versus them," Sliwa said, adding that it was about the people of New York City. 7:01 p.m. Candidates take the stage.6:30 p.m. All three candidates have arrived. We'll begin streaming live debate reaction and analysis on our YouTube page embedded below. Click here if you're having trouble viewingWhile no clear winner emerged, analysts say Mamdani held his lead by avoiding major missteps, Cuomo relied on his executive experience and Sliwa’s offbeat humor and streetwise anecdotes, including stories about his mafia run-ins, made him an unlikely social media favorite.Ben Max, host of the Max Politics podcast, joined Good Day New York on Friday morning with his analysis of the debate.When asked if anyone won, Max said there were no "game changers" from the debate, meaning "Zohran Mamdani, as the front-runner, had a pretty good debate because he didn't make any huge gaff and nobody brought him down significantly."Max added: "But I did think, in the debate itself, if you just look at how it was debated, Curtis Sliwa had a pretty good night."Election Day 2025 is Tuesday, Nov. 4, 13 days away.You can check your registration status online here.To find your local poll site, click here.Here's a look at some of the latest polls in the race for NYC mayor:Some companies have begun taking what amounts to bets on the outcome of the NYC mayoral election.SKIP TO: Andrew Cuomo | Zohran Mamdani | Curtis SliwaReturning to the mayoral race after his 2021 defeat to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Curtis Sliwa, 71, brings his tough-on-crime message back to the Republican forefront. The Guardian Angels founder and radio host is banking on his core base in conservative outer-borough neighborhoods.Sliwa’s law-and-order platform remains central, and he has wasted no time labeling Mamdani "too extreme for this city," positioning himself as the voice of traditional values and public safety.He has focused his campaign on public order and community-focused housing. His seven-point housing plan includes converting empty commercial spaces into homes, restoring vacant rent-controlled units, and returning zoning control to local neighborhoods. Sliwa supports hiring thousands of new police officers and reinstating the NYPD’s Homeless Outreach Unit.On education, he vows to overhaul the system to focus on measurable achievement, restore school safety agents and expand gifted and vocational programs. Sliwa also pledges to preserve traditional Medicare for retirees, and to improve city sanitation and pest control to promote public health.President Donald Trump had previously said he wanted two candidates to drop out of the race, fueling speculation about whether Sliwa might step aside to avoid splitting the vote. But Sliwa has dismissed that idea outright."Absolutely no way. Under no circumstance," he said. "You can’t bribe me. You can’t lease me. You can’t rent me. I am running as the Republican candidate."Despite the uphill battle in a city that leans heavily Democratic, Sliwa’s name recognition and combative style keep him relevant in the race.After conceding defeat in the Democratic primary, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, 67, has officially qualified to run as an independent in the general election, staging a late comeback that could reshape the race. Cuomo is presenting himself as a steady hand with deep experience, seeking to appeal to moderates, independents and disaffected Democrats wary of both Mamdani’s progressivism and Sliwa’s conservatism.He has focused his campaign on restoring public safety and affordability.He calls for adding 5,000 officers to the NYPD and increasing patrols in subways and retail corridors. On housing, Cuomo supports building across income levels, enforcing rent-stabilization laws and offering tax relief for working- and middle-class residents. His education priorities include reducing class sizes, expanding after-school programs and addressing teacher shortages. Cuomo also wants more school-based health centers and expanded community health partnerships to improve access and pandemic preparedness.At 34-years-old, Zohran Mamdani stands out as a Democratic Socialist and a rising star in New York City politics. As a state assemblyman, Mamdani surged ahead on a fiercely progressive platform promising rent freezes, fare-free public transit, universal childcare and an unprecedented push for public housing expansion.His campaign is centered on housing, affordability and equity. Mamdani's proposals include freezing rents for stabilized tenants, tripling the construction of permanently affordable housing and creating a citywide Office of Deed Theft Prevention to protect homeowners.On public safety, Mamdani would form a Department of Community Safety to handle mental health and homelessness responses, while maintaining NYPD staffing but cutting overtime. He’s pledged to disband the Strategic Response Group, which he says has violated New Yorkers’ rights. Mamdani’s education plan calls for fully funded public schools, free child care for kids under five and major investments in CUNY. His health plan would expand city hospital funding, reject Medicare Advantage and create outreach teams to connect residents with coverage and care.
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