NYC Mayoral Race: Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani faces intense attacks from Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa in the final fiery debate. Sexual harassment, inexperience, and affordability dominate the stage.

New York City’s final mayoral debate on Wednesday night devolved into a bitter, personal brawl as frontrunner Zohran Mamdani (D) faced a relentless two-pronged assault from former Governor Andrew Cuomo (I) and Republican Curtis Sliwa just days before early voting begins.

The 90-minute showdown, the last chance for the candidates to make their pitch on a major stage, was defined less by policy specifics and more by scorching accusations about experience, integrity, and political baggage.

Mamdani, who maintains a double-digit lead in most polls, sought to keep his focus on affordability, while his rivals painted him as an unqualified radical.

Key Confrontations and Issues

The Cuomo-Mamdani Feud

The central conflict of the night was the bitter rivalry between the young Democratic socialist and the political veteran.

Experience vs. Integrity: Cuomo repeatedly hammered Mamdani for his lack of executive experience, saying, “You have never had a job. You’ve never accomplished anything.” Mamdani immediately countered by resurrecting the sexual harassment allegations that led to Cuomo’s 2021 resignation, asking, “What do you say to the 13 women who you sexually harassed?”—a revelation that drew audible gasps from the audience.
Affordability & Housing: Mamdani aggressively defended his core proposals, including freezing rent for stabilized apartments and providing free buses. Cuomo attacked the plans as fiscally irresponsible, though he later said he would also freeze the rent.

Sliwa’s Barbs and the “Cocktail Napkin”

Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa repeatedly tried to position himself as the voice of reason, though he frequently piled on the attacks with colorful language.

Sliwa directed one of the night’s most quoted lines at the two frontrunners: “Zohran, your résumé could fit on a cocktail napkin. And, Andrew, your failures could fill a public school library in New York City.”
Sliwa maintained his hardline stance on public safety and vowed to keep Rikers Island open, a position that put him in stark contrast with the current city council mandate.

The Trump and Israel Factors

The debate featured heated exchanges over how each candidate would handle a potential second term for Donald Trump and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Cuomo argued that a Mamdani victory would lead to a “Mayor Trump” scenario, as the former President would “take over” the city due to a lack of respect for the Democratic nominee. Mamdani dismissed this as fear-mongering and called Cuomo “Donald Trump’s puppet.”
Mamdani was again forced to defend his past criticisms of Israeli military action and his stance on Palestinian rights, with Cuomo and Sliwa accusing him of stoking antisemitism—a charge Mamdani categorically denied.

The final debate, described by one analyst as a “masterclass in governance” by Cuomo and a “defensive” night for Mamdani, appears to have reinforced the deep ideological chasm separating the candidates just two weeks before New Yorkers head to the polls.

The video below offers an extended look at the contentious final moments of the debate.