In a fiery final debate ahead of the New York City mayoral election, the three leading candidates—Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and independent Andrew Cuomo—engaged in heated exchanges over key issues, including housing, homelessness, and their approaches to dealing with former President Donald Trump. Held at a packed university auditorium in Queens, the 90-minute debate saw candidates trading personal jabs and defending their records, with Mamdani maintaining his lead in recent polls.
Mamdani, positioned at center stage, faced sharp criticism from both opponents. Cuomo accused him of absenteeism as a state assemblyman, while Sliwa questioned his stance on affordable housing initiatives. Mamdani fired back, blaming Cuomo for the city’s struggles during his tenure as governor. The debate also revisited allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo, with Mamdani highlighting the presence of one of Cuomo’s accusers in the audience.
The candidates unanimously criticized a recent federal immigration raid in Chinatown, arguing that local authorities should handle such issues. However, their approaches to engaging with Trump diverged. Sliwa emphasized negotiation, Mamdani accused Cuomo of being Trump’s puppet, and Cuomo touted his experience in dealing with the former president.
The Middle East conflict also took center stage, with Mamdani defending his pro-Palestine stance against accusations of antisemitism. Cuomo and Sliwa criticized his views, while Cuomo affirmed the right to protest but condemned antisemitic behavior.
As early voting begins, the debate marked the candidates’ last high-profile opportunity to sway voters before Election Day.