New York City mayor debate live: Zahran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa face off for the final time | New York
New York mayor’s final debate begins
Zahran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa Protesters took the stage for a two-hour debate in Queens, New York, before city residents head to the polls to decide who will become the city’s next mayor.
The debate, which will likely focus on public safety, rising costs of living, housing and Donald Trump, is the last time the candidates will be able to make their pitches to New Yorkers before early voting begins on Saturday, October 25.
Main events
Opening statements
“Us against them.” Curtis Sliwasays the Republican candidate in his brief opening speech, in which he claims to be the true representative of the people of New York.
Andrew Cuomoformer New York Governor, begins urging Nix to win, then focuses on attacking “my main opponent,” Zahran Mamdani.
Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, according to Cuomo, has “no new ideas” and is merely a rehash of Bill de Blasio, the former mayor, as his latest attack ad claims.
“I have plans for our future, and my enemies have nothing but fear,” Mamdani says.
New York mayor’s final debate begins
Zahran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa Protesters took the stage for a two-hour debate in Queens, New York, before city residents head to the polls to decide who will become the city’s next mayor.
The debate, which will likely focus on public safety, rising costs of living, housing and Donald Trump, is the last time the candidates will be able to make their pitches to New Yorkers before early voting begins on Saturday, October 25.
Why didn’t the top Democrats support Mamdani?
Adam Gabat
He is the most exciting politician in the United States, who managed to attract thousands of young people and first-time voters to the Democratic Party in his unexpected victory in the primaries for mayor of New York City.
With the suffering of the Democrats Historically low One might have thought that the party would rally around Zahran Mamdani, learn lessons from the media-savvy 33-year-old and bask in his growing popularity.
This did not happen.
Instead, the most influential political figures in New York state politics have avoided any public endorsement of Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist who He leads by 22 points On his closest competitors.
The New York Times reports this Which Zahran Mamdani He plans to ask the New York City Police Commissioner, Jessica TischTo remain in office if he wins the election.
As the Times notes, deciding who should lead the 50,000-person department is one of the biggest choices a New York mayor must make. Mamdani, who has criticized the NYPD and said he wants to build a community safety agency, may have been under intense pressure since winning the Democratic primary.
It is unclear whether Tisch will agree to remain in the position.
Zahran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate and front-runner in the mayoral race, was seen preparing for tonight’s debate at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens.
Saliwa leaves the radio program due to a quarrel with the billionaire owner of the station
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has resigned from his role as host of a local radio show in New York after the station owner asked him to drop his bid for mayor, according to reports.
Sliwa, famous for his red hat, responded to WABC owner John Catsimatidis — himself a Republican — and complained that the station was giving better treatment to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
the New York Post “You will never see me in the WABC studios again, ever, regardless of the outcome of this election,” Saliwa reportedly said.
Catsimatidis denied that he asked Sliwa to withdraw from the race, but insisted that Cuomo’s chances of winning far outweighed Sliwa’s. Speaking to the newspaper, the billionaire businessman said: “I never asked him to leave the race, but I recommended it and a lot of other people said he should.”
As was the case in last week’s debate, Israel and Gaza may become a point of contention tonight.
Mamdani may once again face questions about his previous statements regarding Israel. In the first debate, Cuomo tried to ask his opponent to condemn Hamas, prompting Mamdani to say: “Of course I think so.” [Hamas] They must lay down their weapons… All parties must cease fire and lay down their weapons.”
Cuomo has repeatedly suggested that Mamdani poses a danger to Jewish New Yorkers, while Mamdani has previously criticized Cuomo for failing to visit mosques.
You can follow our key takeaways from that first discussion here:
How to watch or listen to the discussion
The discussion is scheduled to take place from 7 to 9 PM ET (plus pre- and post-discussion analysis). Wondering where to watch or stream the discussion? You have several options:
The two candidates are likely to spar over several high-profile city-related issues, including public safety, costs of living, transit, housing, and a series of ongoing and looming clashes with the Trump administration.
This discussion comes in the same week that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out raids related to the “sale of counterfeit goods” in New York’s Chinatown neighborhood. The federal agency’s actions drew protesters to the city’s streets — and condemnation from local leaders. Mayoral candidates also participated.
Mamdani Named She described the operation as “an aggressive and reckless raid on migrant street vendors,” adding: “Once again, the Trump administration is choosing authoritarian theatrics that create fear, not safety. It must stop.”
Cuomo, independent candidate and former New York governor, Distinguished The raid is “an abuse of federal power by the Trump administration: more about fear than justice, and more about politics than safety.”
“This is not who we are, and New York City will never be when I become mayor,” Cuomo said. “The Statue of Liberty stands in our harbor, not as decoration, but as a declaration of our values and America’s promise.”
In a statement by L GothamistA spokesman for Sliwa said the Republican candidate believes that “restaurants and other service industries should not be the focus of immigration enforcement,” and that the federal government should prioritize deporting “gang members, sex traffickers, and those involved in major crimes.”
All three candidates have stated that Donald Trump should not deploy troops in New York City.
Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa battle it out again before early voting
Hello and welcome to our live blog of the New York Mayor’s Debate. New York City voters will get one last chance to see the three candidates — Democrat Zahran Mamdani, Independent Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa — make their arguments in a public forum on why they are the best person to run America’s largest city.
This second and final match comes a few days before the start of early voting, which runs from Saturday, October 25, until Sunday, November 2. Registered voters who have not chosen to cast those early ballots can cast them on Tuesday, November 4.
The two-hour discussion begins at 7 PM ET, hosted by NY1 spectrum, New York City/Gothamist and City. The mayoral race has received international attention, particularly regarding Mamdani, a state Assemblyman and Democratic socialist whose upbeat populist messages have resonated with many New Yorkers.
We’ll bring you the latest news and reactions from the discussion as we get them.