The first mayoral general election debate was two hours filled with attacks, jibes and wild stories as Zohran Mamdani, Curtis Sliwa and Andrew Cuomo went all out to make their mark.

The three candidates in the Nov. 4 election frequently talked over each other — and a few times Sliwa, the Republican candidate, also droned on so much that the moderators at 30 Rockefeller Center cut him off.

Sliwa and Cuomo, the former governor running as an independent, aimed much of their ire at the front-runner, Democratic nominee Mamdani — but weren’t always in sync with their attacks.

Mayoral candidates Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa, and Zohran Mamdani participate in a debate on Thursday in New York. AP

Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa during the debate. via REUTERS

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a mayoral debate on Thursday. Angelina Katsanis/UPI/Shutterstock

Here are the top five moments from Thursday’s debate on WNBC:

1. “He literally never had a job.”

Cuomo wasted no time ripping into Mamdani. Within minutes of the start of the debate, he jabbed at the Queens assemblyman’s lack of leadership experience.

“He literally has never had a job,” Cuomo said.

“On his resume, it says he interned for his mother. This is not a job for a first-timer,” Cuomo said, comparing the 33-year-old assemblyman to his decades-long career in elected politics.

Zohran Mamdani speaking during a mayoral debate. Angelina Katsanis/UPI/Shutterstock

“If you don’t know what you’re doing people could die,” he continued.

Mamdani, meanwhile, was quick to point out the death toll during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Cuomo was governor.

“If we have a health pandemic, then why would New Yorkers turn back to the governor who sent seniors to their deaths in nursing homes?,” he retorted.

“He literally has never had a job,” Cuomo said about Mamdani. NBC New York

“If we have a health pandemic, then why would New Yorkers turn back to the governor who sent seniors to their deaths in nursing homes?,” Mamdani said, referencing Cuomo’s time as governor amid the COVID-19 pandemic. NBC New York

2. “The jawns, the madames and the pimps”

Mamdani’s stance on prostitution, one of the most shocking aspects of the democratic socialists’ agenda, was bound to be one of the most fiery points of the evening, and did not disappoint.

During a separate line of questions on quality of life, Sliwa and Cuomo started digging into Mamdani, accusing him of wanting to let hookers run free for hire.

“The assemblyman is a mini-me-BDB, he’s Bill de Blasio-lite,” Cuomo said, accusing Mamdani of adopting the former mayor’s direction to NYPD not to arrest prostitutes.

Sliwa and Cuomo took digs at Mamdani over his stance on prostitution, accusing him of wanting to let hookers run free for hire, with Cuomo saying Mamdani is “a mini-me-BDB, he’s Bill de Blasio-lite.” NBC New York

“I am not nor have I ever called for the legalization of prostitution,” Mamdani claimed, digging into Cuomo.

Mamdani wants to decriminalize sex work and co-sponsors a bill in Albany that would do so.

“If you are happy with what’s happening on Roosevelt Avenue then you should vote for Andrew Cuomo because his policy is to continue the exact same ones we’ve seen under [current mayor] Eric Adams,” Mamdani added.

Cuomo has advocated for flooding cops to areas like notorious avenue of sweethearts, and prosecuting prostitutes.

“You have to enforce the law, it’s illegal.”

Sliwa stuck out a middle ground, advocating for focusing on going after the pimps and men hiring prostitutes instead of the women themselves.

“I am not nor have I ever called for the legalization of prostitution,” Mamdani claimed, who wants to decriminalize sex work and co-sponsors a bill in Albany that would do so. NBC New York

“You let everybody know about the jawns. The madams and the pimps need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Sliwa said.

3. Nobody likes Kathy

None of the candidates were willing to publicly back Gov. Kathy Hochul’s reelection bid next year.

“That’s a decision that should be made after this general election,” Mamdani said, seeming to defend his newfound benefactor in Hochul.

None of the candidates publicly backed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s reelection bid. NBC New York

The upstate governor delivered a shocking and controversial endorsement of the Queens pol last month.

Little love is lost between Hochul and Cuomo, who it has emerged had wanted to boot Hochul as his running mate had he followed through with a reelection campaign in 2022.

“You have to know who’s running,” Cuomo said when prodded by the moderator for an answer before shifting the question back to Mamdani.

Start your day with all you need to know

Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

Thanks for signing up!

“Why don’t you endorse her?” Cuomo asked.

4. Mamdani can’t explain how to pay for his freebies

Put on the spot and asked to explain how the city would be able to afford his handout-packed “affordability” agenda, Mamdani once again fell on a word salad.

“Look, a lot of people have called even my campaign a non-starter when we first again and now I stand before you proud to be the Democratic nominee who got the most votes in city primary history,” the assemblyman said, dodging the question.

Mamdani dodged explaining how his plans for free buses, universal child care and freezing rent for stabilized units would be funded. NBC New York

Mamdani’s handouts include free buses, universal child care and freezing rent for stabilized units.

“We have also put forward a plan to save money here in New York City,” he said, referring to his “plan B” if Hochul won’t allow him to raise taxes.

5. Unexpected parade controversy

A seemingly innocuous question about whether the candidates would boycott any parades turned into more controversy.

“No, I wouldn’t unless they discriminated,” Cuomo said succinctly.

“I haven’t thought much about parades to be honest with you,” Mamdani said before Sliwa jumped in to press him.

“I haven’t thought much about parades to be honest with you,” Mamdani said when the candidates were asked about boycotting any parades. NBC New York

“Would you protect the Christopher Columbus statues that exist here in the city?” Sliwa asked, bringing up how Mamdani once gave the middle finger to a monument to Columbus in Astoria.

“My focus is on affordability. I’m not thinking about statues,” Mamdani said.

“Disgraziato!” Cuomo chimed in, following Sliwa’s lead.

The moderators quickly pivoted to asking the candidates about their preferred bagel order before wrapping the two-hour debate.

Bonus: Sliwa’s outbursts

Even without his iconic red “Guardian Angels” beret, GOP mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa was his usual self, injecting wild, dated anecdotes and his own memorable one-liners into the mix as well as some hard-hitting zingers aimed seemingly indiscriminately at all sides.

Sliwa had to be cut off at times for continuing to talk during the debate. NBC New York

“I knew Mario Cuomo, you’re no Mario Cuomo,” Sliwa told Cuomo of his late father, also a former governor. NBC New York

“I knew Mario Cuomo, you’re no Mario Cuomo,” Sliwa told Cuomo of his late father, also a former governor.

Sliwa also compared the state parole board under Andrew Cuomo having released 43 cop killers, compared to none under his father.

The Guardian Angel leader did not disappoint throughout the debate, with other noteworthy moments including:

Saying he avoids taking yellow cabs because he was shot by the mob in the back of one in the 1970s

Confirming he smoked medical marijuana as he dealt with Crohn’s disease after that yellow cab shooting

Starting to respond to a question directed to Cuomo

Name-dropping his ex-wife, Queens DA Melinda Katz

Naming former Republican Governor George Pataki when asked his favorite president