The second and final debate before early voting in New York City’s mayoral race was tense, with sharp exchanges and little policy clarity. Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani defended his lead against former governor Andrew Cuomo, now running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Cuomo repeatedly attacked Mamdani, 34, calling him inexperienced and claiming Donald Trump could easily outmaneuver him. Mamdani countered that his older opponents “speak only in the past because that is all they know.”
The candidates clashed on education reform, transportation funding, Israel policy, and whether to close Rikers Island. Yet few proposals emerged that could shift the race ahead of the 4 November election. Cuomo highlighted his decades of government experience, while Mamdani emphasized change and progress. The debate briefly touched on Cuomo’s sexual harassment allegations, with the Mamdani campaign bringing Charlotte Bennett, one of Cuomo’s accusers, to the debate. Cuomo called the lawsuits politically motivated and noted some were dismissed by a judge.
Sliwa, known more for his television presence than policy expertise, offered sharp jabs. “Zohran, your résumé could fit on a cocktail napkin, and Andrew, your failures could fill a public school library,” he said. He also warned against antagonizing Trump, describing the chest-bumping approach of his opponents as dangerous. Although Trump has not endorsed a candidate, Cuomo repeatedly positioned himself as the only candidate capable of confronting the former president. He warned that a Mamdani win would be Trump’s “dream,” suggesting the president would exploit progressive policies to interfere in city governance.
Mamdani rejected this, pledging to end federal collaboration and oppose interventions, while calling ICE a “reckless entity” after recent enforcement raids in Manhattan. He accused Cuomo of fear-mongering and focused on affordability and safety for New Yorkers. The debate concluded with a question on pandemic response. Sliwa criticized Cuomo, Mamdani praised the efficiency of city-run vaccine sites, and Cuomo insisted on his record. The exchange ended with Mamdani deadpanning, “It was a city-run vaccine site,” prompting Cuomo to reply with a smile, “No, it wasn’t.”
Polls suggest the debate is unlikely to shift voter opinions. Mamdani continues to lead Cuomo by at least a dozen points, while Sliwa remains a distant third. The debate reinforced Mamdani as the candidate of generational change, Cuomo as the experienced but embattled politician, and Sliwa as a colorful presence on stage.
