NEW YORK CITY — The second and final New York City mayoral debate took place on Wednesday and was the last chance for Zohran Mamdani (Democrat), Andrew Cuomo (Independent) and Curtis Silwa (Republican) to get their message across to voters live on television.
Wednesday night saw the candidates answer questions on housing, ballot measures, antisemitism in New York City, President Trump and recent immigration raids.
In less than two weeks, New Yorkers will elect its next mayor. Here were the main takeaways from Wednesday’s debate.
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Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times via AP, Pool1. Cuomo Comes Out Swinging In Final Debate
Cuomo in arguably one of the last chances he had to sway voters came out more aggressive against Mamdani.
The former governor once again called out the state assemblyman’s limited political experience, saying Mamdani has never held down a real job in his life.
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There is no reason to believe you have any merit or qualification for 8.5 million lives. You don’t know how to run a government,” he said.
Later in the debate, Cuomo argued Mamdani had no new ideas.
“He has no new plan. It’s Bill de Blasio rehash, and we know how that turned out. He’s never run anything, managed anything.”
Cuomo claimed he was the right man for the job as mayor, adding: “If you want to be in government, then you have to be serious and mature,” he said.
The former governor also took time to criticize Mamdani on his past comments on Israel.
2. Mamdani Was Caught In The Middle (Literally)
The state assemblyman was placed between Cuomo and Sliwa during the debate, and it didn’t take long for both candidates to attack him.
Cuomo and Sliwa pressed Mamdani on his opinion on several measures that will be on the ballot and for not having a clear answer.
What is your opinion, Zohran?” Sliwa said. “Yes or no?” Cuomo chimed in.
Mamdani conceded, saying that he had “not yet taken a position on those ballot amendments.”
Sliwa attacked Mamdani on his views on Israel.
The Republican candidate mentioned his two sons, who are Jewish, and felt unsafe.
“They don’t think when antisemitism rears its ugly head, which it’s now doing more than ever before, that you will have the ability to come in and put out those flames of hate,” he said.
He also accused Mamdani of supporting “global jihad.”
The Democratic candidate did fire back at Cuomo in the debate, calling out his experience and bringing up his sexual harassment scandal that forced him to resign in 2021.
Mamdani brought up Charlotte Bennett, a former aide in Cuomo’s administration who accused him of sexual harassment, and who was in attendance on Wednesday.
“You sought to access her private gynecological records,” Mamdani said. “She cannot speak up for herself because you lodged a defamation case against her. I, however, can speak. What do you say to the 13 women that you sexually harassed?”
3. Candidates Talk ICE Raids/Trump
Immigration raids in New York City have emerged to be a decisive topic in the mayoral race. All three candidates criticized the recent raid on Canal Street.
When asked how they would handle President Donald Trump, Cuomo said he would go toe to toe with him, while Sliwa mentioned that he would negotiate with the president.
“You’re going to have to confront him,” Cuomo said.
Sliwa said “you can’t beat Trump, he holds most of the cards,” adding that you have to try to negotiate.
Mamdani was open to working with Trump on lowering the cost of living for city residents.
The former governor claimed that Trump would take advantage of Mamdani’s inexperience.
“Donald Trump, I believe, wants Mamdani. That is his dream, because he will use him politically all across the country, and he will take over New York City. Make no mistake, it will be President Trump and Mayor Trump, and he will come in and take over the city,” he said.
The candidates agreed that ICE was not needed for the situation on Canal Street and that the NYPD could have responded.
4. Candidates Agree On NYPD Comish/School Cell Phone Ban
All three candidates praised Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and said they would ask her to stay on if elected.
Mamdani confirmed a New York Times report that he planned to keep her in the position.
Tisch was appointed by Mayor Adams in November 2024.
When asked about the state’s cellphone ban, all three candidates were in favor of the bell to bell restriction.
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