Mamdani, Cuomo clash in final NYC mayoral debate ahead of November vote

In the final showdown before the November 4 New York City mayoral election, frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa faced off Wednesday at LaGuardia Community College in Queens.

The debate largely followed expected lines, with candidates focusing their attacks and defenses on familiar territory—each other’s records, former President Donald Trump, and the ongoing war in Gaza.

Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and a surprise winner in the June primary, continues to hold a strong lead in polls. He campaigned on a progressive platform promising free bus service, rent freezes, and universal childcare—measures he plans to fund partly through tax increases on the wealthy.

Cuomo criticized Mamdani’s proposals as unrealistic and emphasized the 34-year-old Democratic Socialist’s limited governing experience. With incumbent Mayor Eric Adams having bowed out of the race, the contest has tightened to a three-way race among Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa.

Though the debate featured sharp exchanges on key issues, many of the arguments echoed earlier predictions. Mamdani’s bold affordability agenda appeared to resonate, as he maintained his lead going into the final stretch of the campaign.