The final televised debate before New York City's mayoral election on 4 November saw heated exchanges between the three main contenders: Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, independent Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. The event, hosted by Spectrum News NY1, was marked by personal attacks and sharp policy disagreements.
Cuomo and Mamdani traded barbs over immigration, with Cuomo stating he would call Donald Trump to rein in ICE raids on quality-of-life offences. Mamdani retorted by calling Cuomo 'Donald Trump's puppet', while Sliwa positioned himself as the only candidate willing to negotiate with Trump. The debate also touched on homelessness, with Mamdani proposing to double a support programme for shelter families, and Cuomo claiming the homeless rate had more than doubled since he left office.
A significant portion of the debate focused on Mamdani's stance on Jewish issues. Cuomo cited a letter from 650 rabbis accusing Mamdani of threatening Jewish safety, and Sliwa alleged Mamdani supports 'global jihad'. Mamdani denied these claims, suggesting they were fabricated because he is Muslim, and pledged to expand Jewish history education in schools.
On housing, Mamdani advocated freezing rents, while Cuomo argued the mayor does not control the rent guidelines board. Mamdani countered that the mayor appoints board members, saying: 'If you want a candidate for mayor who tells you everything he can’t do, then Andrew Cuomo is your choice.' All three candidates agreed to retain Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
The debate concluded with Sliwa quipping that Cuomo 'fled from being impeached' rather than leaving office voluntarily, drawing loud applause. With less than two weeks until election day, the confrontations underscored the deep divisions among the candidates.
