New York Mayoral Race
The first general election debate in New York City for the mayoral race turned into a heated and aggressive exchange. On Monday night, 10/27/2025 as Democratic runner Zohar Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa exchanged arguments over housing, integrity, and the Israel-Hamas conflict. The debate, hosted by WNBC-TV and WNJU-TV, showcased stark ideological divisions among the three candidates seeking to lead one of the nation’s largest cities.
Mamdani, who is currently leading in the polls, came out attacking Cuomo. He accused him of being disconnected from the city’s crisis. “You’ve heard it from Andrew Cuomo that the number one crisis in this city, the housing crisis, the answer is to evict my wife and I,” Mamdani said, referring to Cuomo’s criticism of his rented apartment in Queens.“ “He thinks you address this crisis by unleashing my landlord’s ability to raise my rent,” the candidate added. Additionally, addressing the audience, Mamdani stated, “If you think that the problem in this city is that my rent is too low, vote for him. If you know the problem in this city is that your rent is too high, vote for me.”
Cuomo, age 67, argued against Mamdani’s statement by emphasizing his years of experience in government and portraying Mamdani as too inexperienced to manage the complexities of City Hall. “If you look at the failed mayors, they are ones that have no management experience,” Cuomo argued. “Do not do it again.” He also sought to draw attention to Mamdani’s controversial remarks regarding Israel, pressing him to clarify his view on Hamas. “Why wouldn’t he condemn Hamas?” Cuomo asked. Mamdani firmly responded, “Of course I believe that they should lay down their arms,” but stood by his belief that Israel should not be “an explicitly Jewish State.”
Sliwa, the Republican candidate and Guardian Angels leader, interrupted frequently and directed much of his argument at Cuomo. “I knew Mario Cuomo,” he said, referring to the former governor’s father. “You are no Mario Cuomo.” He also dismissed Mamdani’s constant agenda as impractical, stating that, “Your fantasies are never going to come about in terms of funding everything you want that’s going to be free, free, free. It is a fantasy.”
The candidates are now preparing for the next debate, on October 22, ahead of the November 4th election. This event has made it clear that New York’s mayoral race is aggressive and ongoing.
