The three candidates running for mayor of New York City faced off in a crucial final debate before the November 4 election Wednesday night. Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa clashed on stage for a second and final time. Early voting begins on Saturday, October 25. Newsweek writers declare who they think won the debate—and you can have your say in our comment form and poll below.

Jonathan Tobin—Zohran Mamdani

Democratic Socialist candidate for mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani went into the last debate before Election Day with two main assets. And they’re why he won it. One is named Andrew Cuomo, and the other is Curtis Sliwa. The former governor of New York is the most plausible alternative to a radical socialist who has fanned the flames of antisemitism with his support for Israel’s eradication and would tank its economy. But Cuomo is burdened by a record that includes his resigning in disgrace because of sexual harassment allegations and the fact that he has been around city politics for decades which presents a strong contrast to a fresh face like Mamdani. The longtime Guardian Angels head is a perennial gadfly that few New Yorkers take seriously as a future mayor and his continued presence in the race guarantees that Mamdani’s opponents remain split.

Virtually everything that happened in the debate reinforced these factors that are allowing an otherwise inexperienced ideologue to cruise to victory. Cuomo was authoritative in his arguments but sounded like a relic from the past. As in their previous debate, Sliwa’s willingness to cheerfully bash Cuomo as well as Mamdani makes it more likely that he will be the recipient of protest votes from those who think the Democratic nominee can’t be stopped by the former governor. Mamdani did not make the case for his extremist policies, but nothing said in the debate seems likely to derail his path to Gracie Mansion.

Faisal Kutty—Zohran Mamdani

Mamdani clearly won tonight by keeping his focus on affordability, housing, and local issues while Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa leaned on anti-Muslim tropes instead of offering solutions. Cuomo’s claim that Mamdani “stokes hatred against Jewish people” and opposes gay rights backfired when Mamdani calmly replied that he has never spoken “in support of global jihad” and believes in human rights for all. He also reminded Cuomo of the sexual-harassment allegations that ended his governorship, drawing one of the debate’s strongest reactions. Through it all, Mamdani stayed on message—speaking of rent relief, safety, transport, and dignity for working New Yorkers. The moderators were fair, but the race’s tone has curdled. In contrast to his rivals’ cynicism, Mamdani projected composure, compassion, and a hopeful vision of leadership grounded in justice.

Read more on Newsweek.

Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate for the New York mayor race, had a focus on public safety and law-and-order.

He proposes hiring thousands of new officers for the New York City Police Department (NYPD), deploying undercover teams in the subway system, restoring “qualified immunity,” and rolling back what he sees as permissive bail laws. He frequently paints the city as being in crisis—particularly on crime and disorder—and presents himself as the contrast to both more liberal and moderate rivals, arguing they are “protecting the violators” while he would “protect the victims.”

Sliwa also opposes vaccine mandates and sanctuary city policies, and expresses skepticism toward critical race theory.

However, Sliwa’s views diverge from standard conservative orthodoxy on certain issues. He supports ranked-choice voting, same-sex marriage, separation of church and state, and has voiced sympathy for ideas like a universal basic income at the city level.

He has also called for relief for working‐class New Yorkers—including tax and toll rebates for households under certain income thresholds—and proposes shifting some property tax burdens onto large institutions (such as universities and major arenas) in lieu of home-owners.

Curtis Sliwa has run for mayor of New York City twice. His first run was in the 2021 election, when he ran as the Republican nominee and lost to Eric Adam. He is running again in the 2025 mayoral election, making this his second mayoral campaign.

Curtis Sliwa has made it clear that he does not consider himself a supporter of Donald Trump.

The Republican has stated stated that he “didn’t support Trump” in the 2016 or 2020 presidential elections and once called Trump a “screwball and a crackpot” in a 2019 interview.

Sliwa has publicly opposed the idea of seeking Trump’s endorsement in the 2025 mayoral race in New York City, stating: “I’m not looking for a Trump endorsement.” He has also said that Trump should stay out of the mayoral election entirely.

The final New York City's mayoral debate has ended.

Mamdani was grilled by his fellow candidates over his proposal to raise the local minimum wage to $30 by 2030.

New York City has one of the highest minimum wages in the U.S. with a minimum wage of $16.50 an hour but research shows many people are still struggling.

When asked how he would raise the minimum wage, Mamdani said it would be “phased in over a long period of time.”

“Zohran Mamdani deals with fantasies, not reality," Sliwa said.

Cuomo added that he had to "agree with Curtis."

"Zohran does have socialist theory, colliding with practical reality," Cuomo added. "I went through this. We raised the minimum wage to the highest in the United States of America. New York set the bar. We set it at $15. Every other state said, that's crazy. When we did it, people in the state said that was crazy when we did it, but it was calibrated. It was doable. We phased it in in different parts of the state. We phased it in with small businesses. We gave them assistance because if you raise it too high and I believe 30 is too high, I would raise it to 20. If you raise it to two high, you do two things; People lose their jobs, you bankrupt the businesses."

All three candidates said they would ask NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch to stay on if they were elected. 

“Yes, I can confirm that reporting,” Mamdani said when he is asked about a New York Times report he'd keep Tisch, who was appointed by Eric Adams to stabilize the NYPD which had been rocked by scandals.

Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa also said they plan to keep her in place, but Cuomo said he doesn’t “believe” Mamdani would keep his word.

“Their philosophies are totally incongruous,” Cuomo says of Mamdani and Tisch, who has criticized criminal justice reforms.

During the quick fire round of the debate where candidates were allowed to ask each other questions, Zohram Mamdani asked Andrew Cuomo about the "13 different women who worked in your administration credibly accused you of sexual harassment."

Mamdani noted that one of Cuomo's accusers, Charlotte Bennett, is in the debate audience tonight.

"What do you say to the 13 women who you sexually harassed?” Mamdani asked Cuomo.

The former governor responded by telling Mamdani, that "If you if you want to be in government, then you have to be serious and mature.

"There were allegations of sexual harassment.... the cases were dropped. Right. You know, that is a fact," Cuomo added.

Curtis Sliwa told Zohran Mamdani not to "glaze" him, after Mamdani said that he would pick Sliwa over Andrew Cuomo in ranked choice voting.

Sliwa's use of the Gen Z phrase, meaning flatter someone often insincerely, sparked surprised laughter and applause from the crowd.

However, Sliwa said that while he does believe in ranked choice voting, he would only vote for himself.

Only Andrew Cuomo said he would accept current New York Mayor Eric Adams’s endorsement.

“Absolutely not, put that crook in jail!” Curtis Sliwa said.

Mamdani and Cuomo had a heated clash during the debate as the former governor attacked Mamdani for his lack of experience, claiming he "has never had a job, never accomplished anything."

Mamdani meanwhile, suggested Cuomo had hurt New York City during his term as governor.

The heated moment began after Mamdani accused Cuomo of taking too long as governor to establish more housing.

Cuomo responded that the governor doesn’t build housing, which Mamdani responded with: “Not if it’s you!”

Things quickly escalated with both talking over each other.

"You don’t know how to run a government and you don’t know how to handle an emergency,” Cuomo told Mamdani.

The bubbling resentment and bitter back-and-forth prompted moderator Errol Louis to remind the candidates that “they know how this works,” and not to talk over each other.

Sliwa then accused his rivals of “fighting like kids in the school yard.”

Forbes estimates Zohran Mamdani to be worth around $200,000.

Meanwhile, Andrew Cuomo is said to be worth fifty times that, at $10 million.

Zohran Mamdani is facing a grilling about his support for Jewish New Yorkers after a letter, signed by 650 rabbis this week, accused him of being a threat to the New York City Jewish community.

The letter warned that Mamdani's election threatens “the safety and dignity of Jews in every city.”

Cuomo seized upon the letter, saying there is fear in the city that Mamdani is “stoking the flames of hatred” against Jews.

Mamdani reiterated he wants to keep all Jewish New Yorkers safe, and said he would implement a new set of public school lessons on Jewish history “so that children in this city learn about the beauty and the breadth of the Jewish experience."

Zohran Mamdani reacted to Curtis Sliwa's claims that he had made statements "in support of global jihad" on Jewish people."

Sliwa claims that some viewed Mamdani as "the arsonist who fanned the flames of anti-Semitism."

"They cannot suddenly accept the fact that you're coming in like a firefighter and you're going to put out these flames. You've got a lot of explaining to do, a lot of apologizing to do," he added,

Mamdani responded that he wanted to "correct the record" about his comments.

"I have never, not once, spoken in support of global jihad. That is not something that I have said and that continues to be ascribed to me. And frankly, I think much of it has to do with the fact that I'm the first Muslim candidate to be on the precipice of winning this election," Mamdani added.

The first big question of the debate focused on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid on street vendors at New York City's Canal Street on Tuesday.

All three candidates condemned the raids, with Cuomo saying ICE should leave quality-of-life crime policing to the NYPD, and that he would have called Trump and persuaded him to call back the federal agents.

“Call them back or I’m gonna have the N.Y.P.D. step in and stop them because this is not their jurisdiction,” Cuomo said he would have told Trump.

Sliwa agreed, saying it should have been “left to the NYPD."

“ICE is a reckless entity that cares little for the law,” Mamdani added as he called to end "the chapter of collaboration between City Hall and the federal government, which we've seen under Mayor Adams." 

Trump has repeatedly targeted Zohran Mamdani, the progressive Democratic front-runner, labeling him a “communist."

At a White House event, Trump said of Mamdani: “I don’t like to see a communist become mayor, I will tell you that.” He also suggested that the only way Mamdani could be beaten is if two of the other major candidates drop out, making the contest one-on-one.

He has also publicly dismissed Curtis Sliwa’s candidacy, calling him “not exactly prime time” and mocking his plan to fill the mayor’s residence with rescue cats.

Trump has publicly expressed support for Andrew Cuomo remaining in the mayoral race, despite Cuomo having lost the Democratic primary. In a July 2025 interview, Trump said of Cuomo’s independent candidacy: “I think he should stay… he’s running against a communist, I would think that he would have a good shot of winning.” However, in more recent statements Trump has grown less optimistic about Cuomo’s chances. In late October he remarked that “it’s not looking too good” for Cuomo given polling trends, suggesting that even major candidate drop-outs might not change the outcome.

Andrew Cuomo said that President Donald Trump wants Zohran Mamdani as mayor because he will be able to “come in and take over the city.”

He added that Mamdani is Trump’s “dream” candidate, but Mamdani fired back that Cuomo, who has spoken with the president about the mayoral race, was “Donald Trump’s puppet.”

Curtis Sliwa added that both Mamdani and Cuomo wanted to wage war with Trump, which he said was the wrong approach.

“I will negotiate with Donald Trump and try to get the best deal possible," he said.

Zohran Mamdani says that Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa are stuck in the past, while he is the " sole candidate running with a vision for the future of this city."

"While there are three candidates on the stage, you will hear only two messages," he said. " My opponents who spend more time trying to convince the other to drop out than actually proposing their own policies, will speak only of the past, because that's all that they know. I am the sole candidate running with a vision for the future of this city.

"Andrew Cuomo will spend much of tonight attacking me. He is a desperate man, lashing out because he knows that the one thing he's always cared about, power, is now slipping away from him. He will amplify right wing talking points. He will share conspiracy theories, and he will do these things to make you feel that this should keep you up at night. But I've been spending the last year listening to New Yorkers, and I know what actually keeps you up. It's whether or not you can afford to live a safe and dignified life in this city. I have plans for our future. My opponents only have fear."

The leading mayoral candidate also thanked New Yorkers for tuning in, joking, "I know you'd rather be watching the Knicks."

Andrew Cuomo immediately went after his rival Zohran Mamdani in his opening remarks, as he said his main opponent "has no new ideas, he has no new plan, it's a Bill de Blasio rehash and we know how that turned out."

"He's never run anything, managing anything. He's never had a real job," Cuomo continued, in his attack on Mamdani.

The former New York governor said that he would hire new police, grow jobs, cut taxes and "end this hate mongering and division that is tearing this city apart."

"Because that's not who we are as a New Yorker, as New Yorkers, you know, I can make change. You know, I can make government work. I've done it before. I'll be right here on day one," he added.

He also said, "Go, Knicks! Go, Knicks. I hope we get an update on the score," as he acknowledged the game going on this evening.

Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa kicks off the debate with his opening statements, as he tells the debate, "It's us versus them."

"This is a campaign about you, the people. And I know many of you hard working New Yorkers. You tell me you've been pushed aside. You've been silenced," Sliwa added.

The New York City mayoral debate is starting right now.

Get a second screen to watch it happen, but stay tuned to Newsweek's live updates.

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As New York City's mayoral candidates prepare for their final debate, a wide range of pressing issues are expected to surface—from local affordability concerns to global conflicts. While moderators have not released the debate topics, one looming question is how the next mayor will respond to threats from President Donald Trump, who has deployed federal agents to Democratic-led cities and cut funding to jurisdictions he views as adversarial.

Candidates are also likely to face questions on cost-of-living pressures, housing affordability, and transportation issues central to the race. The war in Gaza, which has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives, remains a flashpoint. Democrat Zohran Mamdani has condemned Israel’s military campaign as genocidal, aligning with many rights groups and Democratic voters. Andrew Cuomo, a staunch supporter of Israel, has recently adopted a more measured tone, calling the violence “horrific” in a September interview.

Former New Yorker and current U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his opposition to Zohran Mamdani’s bid for New York City mayor, threatening to withhold federal funding if the Democratic nominee wins. Trump, who was born in Queens and maintains deep ties to the city, has repeatedly attacked Mamdani, falsely labeling him a communist and questioning the judgment of New York voters.

Following Mamdani’s primary victory, Trump declared, “I think he’s terrible… I think he’s bad news,” and warned that Mamdani would need to “come right through this building to get his money,” referencing federal aid. The remarks underscore the high political stakes of the race, as Mamdani continues to lead in the polls ahead of the early voting period.

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Conservative influencer Emily Austin has launched a new campaign ahead of the New York City mayoral election, "Hot Girls for Cuomo," a coalition of "hot" women who support former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo’s bid in the race.

The movement, though, has not come without challenges. As of press time, the web address hotgirlsforcuomo.com redirects to the New York attorney general’s investigation into sexual harassment allegations made against Cuomo in 2021.

Cuomo denied any wrongdoing, but later stepped down as governor in August of 2021, after leading New York during the COVID-19 pandemic. Newsweek contacted Emily Austin outside of regular working hours via email for comment.

Austin announced the movement in a video shared to YouTube, during which she interviews Cuomo, who is running as an independent in the election. A clip of this was later shared to X, where it has circulated widely and, as of press time, amassed over 5 million views.

The video, titled “Andrew Cuomo Joins the Emily Austin Show | AI Erotica, NBA Streaming Chaos & NYC Election Breakdown,” sees Austin both interview Cuomo and speak about the election more generally.

“Let’s be honest, Curtis Sliwa needs to drop out,” Austin says in the video. “If you actually wanna help Republicans win New York, you need to make space for Cuomo to overtake Mamdani,” she says, before adding, “I know he’s not the ideal candidate.”

She later describes Sliwa as a “wonderful guy, but says he won’t win the election."

Curtis Sliwa is a conservative activist, founder of the Guardian Angels crime-prevention organization and the Republican Party's mayoral candidate in New York City.

“I was reluctant to meet with Andrew Cuomo,” she says. “I was not a big fan of him, not politically, not personally.”

She then says that Cuomo is “actually very likable,” having now met him, before announcing that she is “officially” starting "Hot Girls for Cuomo."

Read in full from Marni Rose McFall.

Since Mayor Eric Adams withdrew from the New York City mayoral race in late September, independent candidate Andrew Cuomo has seen a noticeable bump in support—but still trails Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted October 9 shows Mamdani leading with 46 percent, followed by Cuomo at 33 percent and Republican Curtis Sliwa at 15 percent.

Cuomo’s rise from 23 percent in September suggests Adams’s departure has primarily benefited the former governor. Mamdani and Sliwa’s numbers have remained largely unchanged, indicating a stable base for both.

Other polls show Mamdani maintaining a lead ranging from 14 to 21 points. Media outlets have reported that Adams’s decision to exit may have been influenced by President Donald Trump, who allegedly sought to unify opposition to Mamdani ahead of the early voting period.

New York City’s suburbs have experienced an uptick in housing demand from wealthy residents in recent months, according to local real estate agents, as high earners scared off by Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral primary victory look for plan B within a reasonable distance.

One such place is Westchester County, a picturesque suburb just 30 minutes north of the Big Apple. Here, real estate agent Zach and Heather Harrison told Newsweek about what they call the “Mamdani effect.”

In the immediate aftermath of Mamdani’s primary victory in June, real estate agents in Florida reported a sudden spike in interest for luxury homes in the state from wealthy New Yorkers trying to relocate. Many, they said, were trying to move their assets to a safe place, away from the New York City mayoral candidate’s plans to tax them more heavily. 

For those looking for a low-tax environment, fewer places are better than Florida, a state with no income tax that is currently considering eliminating property taxes.

New York City’s income tax currently ranges from 3.078 percent to 3.876 percent, on top of already hefty state and federal taxes. Mamdani has pledged to raise those rates even higher on the top 1 percent—a proposal that has got many wealthy residents to plan their exit.

Read in full from Giulia Carbonaro on Newsweek.

Mayor Eric Adams formally exited the 2025 New York City mayoral race in late September, ending a turbulent re-election bid marked by declining poll numbers and mounting controversy. His decision followed a federal investigation into alleged dealings with the Turkish government, which Adams denied, calling the charges politically motivated.

In a video statement, Adams blamed media scrutiny for hampering his fundraising efforts and defended his record as mayor. His withdrawal came after increased attention to his ties with President Donald Trump, including a January visit to Mar-a-Lago. The Justice Department dropped its case against Adams in February, and he has since changed his party affiliation from Democrat to independent.

New York City's mayoral contenders will meet Wednesday night for their final debate, with Democrat Zohran Mamdani aiming to maintain his lead as early voting looms. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, has intensified calls for Republican Curtis Sliwa to drop out, labeling him a “spoiler” whose continued presence could secure Mamdani’s victory.

Cuomo is expected to use the 90-minute debate—airing live at 7 p.m. ET on Spectrum News NY1—as a last-ditch effort to sway conservative and moderate voters. Sliwa, however, remains defiant, ramping up criticism of Cuomo and urging supporters to vote early.

Mamdani, the presumed frontrunner, plans to stay focused on affordability and local issues while defending his experience and progressive platform against attacks. With tensions high and the stakes even higher, the debate could significantly impact the final stretch of the race before the November 4 election.

The final debate in New York City's mayoral race will be moderated by three seasoned journalists: Errol Louis of Spectrum News NY1, Brian Lehrer of WNYC, and Katie Honan of The City.

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Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain, is the 110th mayor of New York City.

Elected mayor in 2021, he positioned himself as a centrist Democrat focused on public safety, economic recovery, and government modernization. However, his tenure has been marked by significant controversies. In late 2024, he was indicted on federal charges related to bribery and campaign finance, though the case was dismissed with prejudice by Trump's DOJ earlier this year.

Last month, Adams announced he was dropping out of the race for re-election., citing the “constant media speculation about my future” and the “campaign finance board’s decision to withhold millions of dollars,” which he said “undermined” his ability to raise “the funds needed for a serious campaign.”

Adams’ announcement follows poor polling and scant establishment support, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul having endorsed Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani earlier this month.

In the months leading up to November, the mayor repeatedly said he would stay in the race. But a federal corruption case and Democrats’ wariness of his relationship with President Donald Trump eroded his support. As his popularity slid, he broke with Democrats and launched his reelection bid as an independent.

Sliwa, the creator of the Guardian Angels crime patrol group, hopes to land a major upset in the intensely blue city.

Sliwa, who has been vocal in his views on immigration in the city and has a long history of working for the betterment of New Yorkers, received almost 30 percent of the vote when he last ran as the GOP candidate four years ago.

This time around, he's hoping Mamdani and Cuomo split the Democratic vote, while he secures the support of Republicans and centrists to come out on top. How the Republicans fare could be a key indicator of how voters feel about the GOP as a whole under Trump.

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The next New York City mayoral debate is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET tonight.

It is expected to run for 90 minutes.

Moderators include Errol Louis (NY1), Brian Lehrer (WNYC), and Katie Honan (The City). Viewers can tune in via Spectrum News NY1, WNYC radio, or YouTube.

For Cuomo, a Democrat who is now running as an independent, the stakes are high. The debate is one of his last chances to sway voters to his side and convince them that going with Mamdani would be a mistake.

The race is also Cuomo’s attempt at a political comeback after he resigned as governor four years ago following a barrage of sexual harassment allegations. He denies wrongdoing but has faced heavy criticism over the scandal, along with other damaging issues that have arisen during his tenure as governor.

Despite this record, Cuomo has emphasized his qualifications as the state's former governor when outlining his policies and has sought to make it clear to voters that he cares about the city and its residents.

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Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, is in a more comfortable position. However, he will need to fend off two hours of sharp jabs from Cuomo while maintaining the hopeful, charming vibe that has characterized his campaign.

The race has catapulted Mamdani to national political stardom, with Republicans, including President Donald Trump, trying to turn him into the face of the Democratic Party by highlighting his most controversial past comments and positions and casting him as a dangerous communist.

Trump has threatened to arrest Mamdani, to deport him, and even to take over New York City if he wins. Mamdani is a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Mamdani has tried to distance himself from some of his past statements, including calling the New York Police Department “a major threat to public safety,” and his refusal, during the Democratic primary, to disavow use of the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which is seen as a call to violence for many Jews.

Mamdani's brand of economic populism, which focuses on lowering the city's astronomical cost of living by advocating for the government to prioritize helping the lower and middle classes over the wealthy, has generated buzz and excitement.

At the same time, the state assemblyman's calls to raise taxes on the wealthy and intense criticisms of the Israeli government's military actions in Gaza have unnerved some centrists and conservatives. That's where Cuomo's rebooted campaign sees its path to victory.

In the first general election debate for New York City mayor, Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani came out swinging against independent challenger Andrew Cuomo, accusing the former governor of aligning with Donald Trump and ignoring the city’s affordability crisis. “If you think that the problem in this city is that my rent is too low, vote for him,” Mamdani said, defending his rent-stabilized apartment in Queens.

Cuomo, seeking a comeback, countered by questioning Mamdani’s experience and progressive platform. “Don’t do it again,” he warned voters, referencing past mayors without management credentials.

Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa also targeted Cuomo, invoking the legacy of Mario Cuomo and declaring, “You’re no Mario Cuomo.”

The morning after, Cuomo labeled Sliwa a “spoiler” and urged voters to consolidate behind him to block Mamdani. Mamdani welcomed the assessment, calling Cuomo’s campaign “more of the same.” Sliwa, undeterred, vowed to stay in the race, telling supporters, “I have earned the right to be on that stage.”

With early voting set to begin Saturday, October 25, the three leading candidates in New York City's mayoral race will meet tonight for their final televised debate. Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, 34, enters the event with a commanding lead in the polls. Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, 67, running as an independent after losing the primary to Mamdani, trails in second. Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, 71, holds third place.

The 90-minute debate begins at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on Spectrum News NY1 and WNYC radio, with a YouTube livestream available. Newsweek will provide real-time coverage and analysis.

NY1 hosts the event in collaboration with Spectrum Noticias, WNYC/Gothamist, The City, the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, New York Law School, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and the Museum of the City of New York.

New Yorkers will cast their votes in the general election on Tuesday, November 4.