Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa faced off in their first general election debate on October 16, 2025, at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, sparring over experience, public safety, affordability and foreign policy. The event, hosted by NBC 4 New York, Telemundo 47 and Politico, highlighted Mamdani's lead and Cuomo's defenses against past scandals. With Election Day on November 4, supporters rallied outside amid chants and arguments.
The debate, held without a live audience, drew heated exchanges as the candidates vied to replace Mayor Eric Adams, who suspended his re-election campaign last month. Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman and democratic socialist, maintained his double-digit poll lead while promoting policies like raising the minimum wage to $30, free child care and transit, government-run grocery stores, and rent freezes—estimated to cost $10 billion, funded by a 2% tax hike on the top 1%. Governor Kathy Hochul has pledged to reject such tax increases, and none of the candidates endorsed her re-election during the forum.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent after losing the June 24 Democratic primary to Mamdani 56% to 44%, defended his record managing a state budget twice New York City's $115 billion size. He highlighted accomplishments including minimum-wage laws, paid family leave and LaGuardia Airport renovations. Cuomo faced questions on his 2021 resignation amid sexual harassment allegations and COVID-19 handling, calling the claims 'politically motivated' and noting all harassment cases were settled or dismissed. He attacked Mamdani's experience, stating, 'He literally has never had a job... He interned for his mother. This is not a job for on-the-job training.' Mamdani countered, '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.'
Republican Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, positioned himself as the candidate who best understands working-class New Yorkers, pledging to staff his administration with experts and vowing a working relationship with President Donald Trump despite Trump's criticisms. All three opposed Trump's policies on ICE arrests of non-criminal migrants and deploying National Guard troops in the city.
Israel-Hamas tensions surfaced, with New York City's large Jewish community in focus. Mamdani, a Muslim, faced scrutiny over past rhetoric like refusing to condemn 'globalize the intifada' and 2017 rap lyrics praising the 'Holy Land Five,' convicted of aiding Hamas. He responded that after discussions with Jewish New Yorkers, he now 'discourages this language' and has denounced Hamas repeatedly. Cuomo accused him of antisemitism and refusing to condemn Hamas.
Outside, supporters gathered in police-designated areas on 50th Street. Mamdani backers, including state Sen. Robert Jackson and SEIU member Pedro Francisco, praised his 'straightforward' policies and affordability focus, with Francisco calling him 'the present and future of New York City.' Cuomo supporters like Emily from Brooklyn cited his experience for safety and small businesses, while union worker Anthony Braue criticized Mamdani's 'free stuff' as extreme and tax-burdening.