NEW YORK CITY – New York City’s mayoral candidates will go head-to-head on some of the city’s biggest issues tonight in their first debate.
The race has narrowed down to three major candidates – a Democrat, a Republican and an Independent – each vying to convince New Yorkers they’re best suited to lead the city forward.
When is the NYC mayoral debate?
What we know:
The event is expected to focus on key issues, including public safety, affordable housing, transit reliability and the future of city leadership as New Yorkers prepare to head to the polls.
NYC mayoral debate time / where to watch
The live debate kicks off at 7 p.m. and will air on WNBC and Telemundo 47 in partnership with POLITICO. The first hour will be televised, while the second will be streamed.
Mayoral hopefuls brace for high-stakes debate that could reshape NYC race
With just weeks left before Election Day, the leading candidates for New York City mayor are preparing for a critical showdown on the debate stage. Democrat Zoran Mamdani aims to defend his commanding lead as former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa look for breakthrough moments to shift the race. From crime to affordability, the night’s exchanges could define the campaign’s final stretch. FOX 5 NY’s Sharon Crowley reports.
It’ll take place at Rockefeller Center, though there will be no studio audience.
Here’s a look at the candidates and where they stand on the major issues shaping this race.
Meet the candidates
SKIP TO: Andrew Cuomo | Zohran Mamdani | Curtis Sliwa
Dig deeper:
Returning to the mayoral race after his 2021 defeat to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Curtis Sliwa brings his tough-on-crime message back to the Republican forefront. The Guardian Angels founder and outspoken radio host is banking on his core base in conservative outer-borough neighborhoods.
Sliwa’s law-and-order platform remains central, and he has wasted no time labeling Mamdani “too extreme for this city,” positioning himself as the voice of traditional values and public safety.
He has focused his campaign on public order and community-focused housing.
Sliwa’s affordability plan
His seven-point housing plan includes converting empty commercial spaces into homes, restoring vacant rent-controlled units, and returning zoning control to local neighborhoods. Sliwa supports hiring thousands of new police officers and reinstating the NYPD’s Homeless Outreach Unit.
On education, he vows to overhaul the system to focus on measurable achievement, restore school safety agents, and expand gifted and vocational programs.
Sliwa also pledges to preserve traditional Medicare for retirees and improve city sanitation and pest control to promote public health.
After conceding defeat in the Democratic primary, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has officially qualified to run as an independent in the general election, staging a late comeback that could reshape the race. Cuomo is presenting himself as a steady hand with deep experience, seeking to appeal to moderates, independents, and disaffected Democrats wary of both Mamdani’s progressivism and Sliwa’s conservatism.
Cuomo considering new strategy in NYC mayor race
New York City mayoral candidates are turning to social media in an attempted to revitalize their campaigns, but is it working? Also, Republican Curtis Sliwa says he will take of his signature red beret for good if elected. FOX 5 NY’s Morgan McKay breaks down the state of the race.
He has focused his campaign on restoring public safety and affordability.
He calls for adding 5,000 officers to the NYPD and increasing patrols in subways and retail corridors.
Cuomo’s housing plan
On housing, Cuomo supports building across income levels, enforcing rent-stabilization laws, and offering tax relief for working- and middle-class residents.
His education priorities include reducing class sizes, expanding after-school programs, and addressing teacher shortages.
Cuomo also wants more school-based health centers and expanded community health partnerships to improve access and pandemic preparedness.
At 33, Zohran Mamdani stands out as a Democratic Socialist and a rising star in New York City politics. As a state assemblyman, Mamdani surged ahead on a fiercely progressive platform promising rent freezes, fare-free public transit, universal childcare, and an unprecedented push for public housing expansion.
His campaign is centered on housing, affordability, and equity.
Mamdani’s housing plan
He proposes freezing rents for stabilized tenants, tripling the construction of permanently affordable housing, and creating a citywide Office of Deed Theft Prevention to protect homeowners.
On public safety, Mamdani would form a Department of Community Safety to handle mental health and homelessness responses, while maintaining NYPD staffing but cutting overtime. He’s pledged to disband the Strategic Response Group, which he says has violated New Yorkers’ rights.
Mamdani’s education plan calls for fully funded public schools, free child care for kids under five, and major investments in CUNY.
His health plan would expand city hospital funding, reject Medicare Advantage, and create outreach teams to connect residents with coverage and care.
NYC mayor polls
By the numbers:
According to a new Quinnipiac University poll, Cuomo has gained momentum since Adams dropped out, reshaping what once looked like a settled race. But as the campaign enters its final stretch, the numbers suggest that momentum alone may not be enough to close Mamdani’s double-digit edge.
The poll shows Mamdani leading with 46% of likely voters. Cuomo follows at 33%, andSliwa trails with 15% support.
In Quinnipiac’s previous survey on Sept. 10, when Adams was still in the race, Mamdani had 45%, Cuomo 23%, Sliwa 15%, and Adams 12%.
The new numbers suggest Cuomo picked up most of Adams’ supporters but still trails Mamdani by double digits, underscoring a race that has shifted on the surface but not in structure.
What’s next:
The next and final debate before Election Day will take place Wednesday, Oct. 22.
The Source: This report is based on information from interviews with the candidates and their respective websites.