Cuomo, Mamdani trade sharp attacks in final New York mayoral debate
Cuomo is now running as an independent, while Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has rejected calls from both Republicans and Democrats to drop out to give Cuomo a better chance against Mamdani. The incumbent, Eric Adams, withdrew from the race in September.
The New York mayoral election saw Zohran Mamdani, Andrew M Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa on stage yesterday (22 October), hurling personal attacks at each other during their second and final debate before the election happens on 4 November.
Cuomo landed more blows to Mamdani than in last week's first general-election debate. However, Mamdani's double-digit lead in the polls appears difficult to overcome. Early voting begins on Saturday.
According to The Washington Post report, the race has been one of the most unusual in recent memory. Cuomo, the former New York governor who resigned amid sexual harassment allegations, lost the Democratic primary in June to 34-year-old Mamdani, a New York State assemblyman and anti-Zionist democratic socialist.
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Cuomo is now running as an independent, while Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has rejected calls from both Republicans and Democrats to drop out to give Cuomo a better chance against Mamdani. The incumbent, Eric Adams, withdrew from the race in September.
The 90-minute debate featured clashes over Donald Trump, Israel, public safety and education. Cuomo and Mamdani sparred over who could better stand up to Trump, with both claiming that Trump preferred the other. Trump has publicly said he favours Cuomo and has called Mamdani a communist, whom he will attack.
Mamdani's position on Israel again drew controversy. Sliwa accused him of being "the arsonist who fanned the flames of antisemitism," while Cuomo said Mamdani "stokes the flames of hate against Jewish people." Mamdani defended himself, saying he would fight antisemitism while supporting equal rights for Palestinians and Jews.
Sliwa, though trailing in polls, made his presence felt with sharp jabs at both opponents. "Zohran, your resume could fit on a cocktail napkin," he told Mamdani, before turning to Cuomo: "Your failures could fill a public school library."
Public safety and education also dominated the discussion. Mamdani proposed creating a Department of Community Safety to address mental health and homelessness, while Cuomo said his plan to hire 5,000 new police officers would be more effective. Sliwa proposed hiring 7,000 officers, calling Mamdani's plan unrealistic.
On education, Mamdani said he would end mayoral control of the city's education department to empower local educators. Cuomo criticised the idea and dismissed Mamdani's grocery store plan, saying, "Forget the grocery stores. Run the Department of Education."
