New York City's three mayoral candidates went head-to-head on Thursday night in the first of two televised debates, less than three weeks before the election. The Democratic nominee, Zohran Mamdani, former governor Andrew Cuomo – now running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani – and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa clashed over crime, policing, affordability, housing, and the recent Gaza ceasefire deal.
Frontrunners Mamdani and Cuomo sparred almost immediately, with Sliwa wedged between them. Cuomo painted Mamdani as too inexperienced to lead the city, saying: 'This is no job for on-the-job training.' Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman and self-described democratic socialist, countered by citing his legislative experience and his lived reality as a renter and bus commuter. He retorted: 'What I don't have in experience, I make up for in integrity, and what you don't have in integrity, you could never make up for in experience.' Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 over sexual harassment allegations, was pressed on his character but denied the claims.
Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, took shots at both rivals, dismissing Mamdani's plans as 'fantasies' and mocking Cuomo for losing the primary. The debate also circled around Donald Trump; each candidate outlined how they would engage with his administration. Mamdani said he would work with Trump on lowering the cost of living but would stand up to him if necessary. Cuomo said he would also cooperate but fight if Trump hurt New York, while Sliwa emphasised negotiation to protect federal funds. All three agreed Trump should not deploy national guard troops to the city.
On the Gaza ceasefire, Mamdani called for all parties to lay down arms and allow humanitarian aid, but Cuomo accused him of refusing to 'denounce Hamas' and speaking in 'code'. Mamdani fired back, labelling Cuomo 'the legal defence team for Benjamin Netanyahu during this genocide'. Sliwa continued to pepper both with criticism, telling Cuomo: 'You think you're the toughest guy alive. You lost your own primary.'
