Mamdani and Cuomo Clash in Heated Final Debate of New York Mayoral Race
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| Watch: Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa Clash Over Trump and Who’s Best Suited to Lead New York |
The three front-runners in New York City’s mayoral race went head-to-head Thursday night in their final debate — a last-ditch effort to convince the city’s famously tough crowd of their vision, grit, and leadership.
This time, the candidates weren’t just sparring for the cameras — they had a live audience.
A packed auditorium at a Queens university pulsed with energy as supporters and critics alike shouted, applauded, and occasionally heckled. Over 90 brisk minutes, moderators steered the discussion through housing, the conflict in Gaza, and the state of the White House — testing each contender’s composure along the way.
Democrat Zohran Mamdani, standing center stage, remained the frontrunner to beat. Recent polls show him holding a commanding double-digit lead over Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent Andrew Cuomo — and the cheers from the crowd made that lead audible.
While much of the night revisited familiar talking points and well-worn one-liners from the previous debate, it served as the trio’s final, high-stakes chance to make their closing pitch before voters head to the polls.
Highlights from the night include:
Candidates Come Out Swinging — and Seething
The final New York City mayoral debate began with tension in the air — and quickly turned combative. With early voting just days away, the three leading contenders abandoned restraint and went for the jugular.
If last week’s televised debate was a test of policies, Thursday night’s was a test of temper. Energized by a raucous live audience, the attacks turned sharper and more personal.
Democrat Zohran Mamdani branded Andrew Cuomo “a desperate man,” while the former governor fired back, accusing Mamdani of shirking his duties in Albany: “You never show up for work,” he charged — a claim Mamdani flatly denied.
Mamdani later shot back, invoking Cuomo’s own words. “You said the city is getting screwed by the state. Who was leading the state? It was you.”
The assemblyman found himself fending off both rivals when Curtis Sliwa and Cuomo demanded he clarify his stance on upcoming affordable housing ballot measures.
“I have not yet taken a position on those,” Mamdani admitted — a response that drew laughter and jeers from the others.
“What a shocker,” Cuomo sneered, as Sliwa slapped his forehead theatrically.
The verbal sparring occasionally boiled over, prompting moderator Errol Louis to step in. “You can’t talk over each other,” the NY1 anchor warned after yet another shouting match over Cuomo’s gubernatorial record.
Sliwa, meanwhile, played the law-and-order card, positioning himself as the only candidate who could “keep New Yorkers safe.” He took aim at Cuomo’s handling of the subway system and declared bluntly, “I don’t trust you.”
Even after the debate ended, Sliwa kept up the fight — vowing to be Mamdani’s “worst nightmare” if he wins, and joking that Cuomo “must’ve had a couple of Red Bulls” before taking the stage.
Scandals Resurface
The night also revisited familiar controversies. Once again, both Sliwa and Mamdani raised the sexual harassment allegations that forced Cuomo to resign as governor in 2021 — charges he has consistently denied.
At one point, Mamdani told the audience that one of Cuomo’s accusers was in attendance. “What do you say to the 13 women who you sexually harassed?” he demanded.
Cuomo insisted the cases were dismissed and reiterated his denial of wrongdoing.
He then flipped the script, attacking Mamdani over a photo scandal that has shadowed the assemblyman’s campaign — a picture of him smiling alongside a Ugandan official known for pushing anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
“Had I known that the first deputy minister was the architect of that legislation, I would not have taken that photo,” Mamdani replied, adding that Cuomo had “no real record” of protecting LGBTQ+ New Yorkers.
Dealing with the White House
A surprise immigration raid earlier this week in Chinatown loomed large over the debate stage, offering a glimpse of how a future Trump administration might operate in New York — and giving the candidates a chance to outline how they’d handle Washington.
On Tuesday, federal immigration agents swept through a city block, detaining several street vendors and igniting outrage among residents. Moderator Errol Louis pressed the candidates to respond to the raid — and, more broadly, to describe how they’d navigate a relationship with the White House.
For a brief moment, there was consensus: all three contenders agreed that city police, not federal agents, should have handled any street vending issues. But unity ended there, as each man described a very different approach to the Trump administration.
“With Trump, it’s always the art of the deal. You have to negotiate,” said Republican Curtis Sliwa, striking a pragmatic tone.
Zohran Mamdani countered sharply, calling Andrew Cuomo “Donald Trump’s puppet himself.”
While Mamdani vowed to resist any federal deportation campaigns, he also signaled a willingness to cooperate where possible: “When it comes to tackling the cost of living, I am always ready to work with the president.”
Cuomo, who sparred directly with Trump as governor, insisted he alone had the experience to protect New York’s interests. “He puts his finger in your chest,” Cuomo said, leaning forward for emphasis. “And you have to put your finger right back in his chest.”
The Israel–Gaza Divide
The war in the Middle East continues to ripple through New York City politics — and Thursday’s debate made clear just how deeply it has shaped the mayoral race.
Mamdani, whose pro-Palestinian stance has defined much of his campaign, again faced criticism from his rivals. Cuomo accused him of “fanning the flames of hatred against Jews,” while Sliwa said the Queens assemblyman “had a lot of explaining to do.”
Mamdani repeated his pledge to be “a mayor for all New Yorkers,” including Jewish residents who support Israel, and rejected the notion that his views were extreme. “It has to do with the fact that I am the first Muslim candidate to be on the precipice of being mayor of New York City,” he said.
Moderator Louis turned the spotlight on Cuomo, a staunch supporter of Israel, asking how he would handle demonstrations against Israeli military actions — protests that have frequently filled city streets and campuses over the past year.
“That’s your right,” Cuomo replied. “Protest. Demonstrate. Disagree. God bless America, God bless New York City. But that doesn’t justify antisemitic behavior.”
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