NYC mayoral Debate Wednesday night .
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10/23/20253 min read
NYC Mayoral Debate: Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa Face Off
The second and final debate in the 2025 New York City mayoral race took place last night (October 22, 2025) at LaGuardia Community College in Queens, hosted by NY1 in partnership with WNYC, The City, and other outlets. It aired live at 7 p.m. ET and ran for 90 minutes. Democratic nominee and frontrunner Zohran Mamdani (a state assemblyman and Democratic Socialist) squared off against independent candidate Andrew Cuomo (former New York governor) and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa (Guardian Angels founder). This came after their first debate on October 16 at Rockefeller Center, with early voting starting October 25 and Election Day on November 4.
The event was marked by sharp personal attacks, cross-talk, and clashes over key issues like public safety, housing affordability, immigration under a potential second Trump term, Israel-Gaza tensions, and education. Mamdani, polling at around 46% in recent Quinnipiac surveys, was on the defensive as Cuomo (33%) and Sliwa (15%) tried to chip away at his lead by questioning his experience and past comments on policing and Jewish community relations. Post-debate analysis from outlets like Politico and Newsweek called it a strong night for Mamdani, who stayed composed without major gaffes, while Sliwa and Cuomo traded barbs but struggled to land unifying blows.
Key Highlights and Exchanges:
Opening Statements and Headlines: Candidates were asked for their "headline" after one year in office. Cuomo went with "Rent down, crime down, education scores up, more jobs in New York City, optimism high." Sliwa quipped, "Curtis Sliwa exceeds all expectations and looks very mayoral tonight." Mamdani countered with "Mamdani continues to take on Trump, delivers on affordability agenda for New Yorkers."
Public Safety and Crime: Cuomo and Sliwa hammered Mamdani on his progressive stance on policing, with Cuomo accusing him of being influenced by the Democratic Socialists of America and too soft on "quality-of-life" crimes. Mamdani fired back, emphasizing community-based safety over aggressive tactics, saying Cuomo's record as governor showed he "can't seem to understand" rising costs and inequality fueling crime. Sliwa positioned himself as the working-class voice, vowing to prosecute misdemeanors like former Mayor David Dinkins and praising Trump's deportation policies.
Housing and Affordability: Mamdani proposed phasing in a $30 minimum wage and building 500,000 affordable units over 10 years, calling NYC a "museum of where working-class people used to live." Sliwa dismissed it as "fantasies, not reality" and called for freeing up vacant NYCHA apartments. Cuomo focused on his executive experience to promise lower rents and more jobs, while both he and Mamdani pledged collaboration with interfaith groups like Metro IAF on housing.
Israel-Gaza and Jewish Community Concerns: Tensions peaked here, with Cuomo citing a letter from 650 rabbis claiming Mamdani's comments threatened Jewish safety and dignity. Mamdani, who is Muslim, responded by committing to protect all New Yorkers, including Sliwa's Jewish children, and serve as a mayor for the city's diverse Jewish population. Sliwa and Cuomo praised Trump's role in Middle East ceasefires, while Mamdani pushed back on divisiveness.
Trump and Immigration: With Trump back in office, candidates addressed mass deportations. Sliwa expressed a "love-hate" history with Trump but supported federal enforcement. Mamdani vowed to shield immigrant communities, while Cuomo stressed balancing city resources without overstepping federal authority.
Personal Jabs: The debate got chaotic with interruptions—moderators had to call for order. Sliwa called Mamdani's résumé "a cocktail napkin" and Cuomo's failures "a public school library." Mamdani accused rivals of begging each other to drop out rather than offering ideas. In ranked-choice voting hypotheticals, Mamdani ranked Sliwa second (prompting Sliwa to joke, "Zohran, please don’t be glazing me!"), while Sliwa refused to rank anyone else.
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