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Did the final mayoral debate move the needle away from Mamdani?
While he continues to lead most mayoral polls after the debate, some audience members groaned when he dodged questions on ballot measures.
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Navya Asopa - Thu, 23, Oct 2025
- 03:26 EDT
- 19
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks to the media during a press conference in New York City, U.S.,September 29, 2025. / REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
Queens’ LaGuardia Community College came alive on Oct.22 evening as an expressive crowd gathered to hear from the three major candidates at the final New York mayoral debate before elections.
The showdown quickly turned fiery as the contenders came prepared with personal attacks, one-liners, and a long list of promises for the city’s future.
While Zohran Mamdani (D) continues to lead most mayoral polls after the debate, some audience members groaned when he dodged questions on ballot measures, just days before early voting begins.
ALSO READ: Mamdani stood out, Cuomo didn't have substance: Desis react to final NYC mayoral debate
“I have not yet taken a position on those ballot amendments,” he responded. There will be six ballot proposals to vote on, ranging from housing reform to the construction of a sports complex.
Mamdani also offered no details on how he guarantees the removal of mayoral control of the city’s public schools without compromising accountability.
He again boldly positioned himself against Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdown and drove home the point of his campaign’s affordability agenda.
Andrew Cuomo (I), on the other hand, pushed on his critique of Mamdani’s inexperience, accusing him of being anti-Jew for supporting “global intifada”, which Mamdani clarified he does not.
The moderators asked about how the candidates plan to deliver their promises for New York’s affordability, housing, policing, education, and public transit reforms.
Many attendees cheered Curtis Sliwa (R) on, who, despite having been offered lucrative deals to drop out of the race to boost Cuomo’s candidacy, sharply took down his opponents.
“Zohran, your resume can fit on a cocktail napkin. And Andrew, your failures could fill a public school library in New York City,” Sliwa smirked as he called them “two kids in a schoolyard.”
During the round of questioning each other, both Mamdani and Sliwa pressed hard on the 13 sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo.
“One of those women, Charlotte Bennett, is here in the audience this evening. You sought to access her private gynecological records,” Mamdani said. “ What do you say to the 13 women that you sexually harassed?”
Cuomo stuck to his justification of calling it “political” and having sorted it out legally.
After the debate concluded, social media was buzzing with reaction videos, analysis, and opinions as usual.
“Zohran is good for New York, Cuomo is bad for New York, Sliwa is New York,” read multiple comments online. While roughly 8 percent undecided voters could turn the tide, the city has likely reached a consensus.
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