Chaos erupts in NYC mayoral debate as Cuomo and Sliwa mercilessly tear apart Mamdani’s résumé and ‘fantasy’ policy plans.NH
Zohran Mamdani, the proud socialist frontrunner for NYC mayor, got skewered Wednesday by foes Andrew Cuomo and beret-wearing GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa at their final debate — for his “fantasy” pie-in-the-sky policy proposals and a resume that “could fit on a cocktail napkin.”
The candidates sparred over President Trump (with Mamdani calling former governor Cuomo POTUS’ “puppet”), anti-semitism and Mamdani’s anti-Israel stance, mayoral control over the city’s public schools, and much more, with plenty of mudslinging.
Next up: Early voting starts Saturday and will run through Election Day on Nov. 4.
Follow live updates from the final 2025 NYC mayoral debate for the latest news, analysis, reactions and more:
Sliwa swipes Zohran Mamdani: ‘Your resume can fit on a cocktail napkin’
By Anna Young
Curtis Sliwa blasted Zohran Mamdani’s work experience — and ripped the Democratic nominee and Andrew Cuomo for bickering “like kids in the schoolyard” on the Long Island City debate stage.
“I heard the both them again, fighting like kids in the schoolyard,” the Republican founder of the Guardian Angels fired off.
“Your resume could fit on a cocktail napkin,” Sliwa told Mamdani, while snapping at Cuomo “(you) had your fill.”
Mamdani breaks a sweat, fails to give specifics as Cuomo, Sliwa repeatedly pin him into a corner during fiery NYC mayoral debate
By Craig McCarthy, Matthew Fischetti, Hannah Fierick, Anna Young and Matt Troutman
Front-runner Zohran Mamdani broke a sweat – literally – during a knock-down-drag-out final mayoral debate Wednesday as a fired-up Andrew Cuomo repeatedly pressed him to “quit acting” and deliver straight answers.
The normally smooth-talking socialist was repeatedly pinned into a corner by the unlikely tag team of Cuomo, the ex-governor running as an independent, and GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa, who labeled Mamdani’s policy proposals “fantasy.”
Seizing the last opportunity to cut Mamdani down to size — with 13 days to go before the Nov. 4 election — the thirsty rivals wouldn’t let any of the Democratic nominee’s non-answers slide off the LaGuardia Community College stage.
“Don’t be a politician,” Sliwa taunted when Mamdani tried to dodge giving his opinion about important ballot proposals, mousily saying he was “appreciative that those measures will be on the ballot.”
“Oh, what a shocker,” Cuomo sniped, before mocking the front-runner with a talking hands gesture.
Cuomo hangs with Knicks legend after bolting debate for season opener
Things got fiery on the debate stage, but Andrew Cuomo stayed Melo.
The independent nominee for mayor of New York City posted pictures on X of himself hanging with Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony.
In one picture, Cuomo shakes hands with the 10-time NBA All-Star. In the other, the duo poses for a picture.
Cuomo, who debated Zohran Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa Wednesday night, bolted right after the event to attend New York’s season-opening win against the Cavaliers.
Cuomo sexual harassment accuser Charlotte Bennett spotted at debate after Mamdani calls her out in the crowd: pics
Charlotte Bennett, one of 13 women who have accused ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment, was just spotted leaving the NYC mayoral debate in Long Island City.
Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani called Bennett out from the stage as he ripped Cuomo for the disturbing allegations that led to him resigning in disgrace in 2021.
“You have spent more than $20 million in taxpayer funds to defend yourself, all while describing these allegations as entirely political,” Mamdani said, adding, “You have even gone so far as to legally go after these women.”
“One of those women, Charlotte Bennett, is here in the audience this evening,” he said pointing to the accuser. “You sought to access her private gynecological records.
“She cannot speak up for herself because you lodged a defamation case against her.”
Bennett, 29, Cuomo’s former aide, and her ex-boss, 67, settled the lawsuit in April for $450 million.
Rep. Elise Stefanik rips into ‘Communist jihadist’ Zohran Mamdani, throws jab at Gov. Hochul on X
Rep. Elise Stefanik took to social media to blast NYC Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani over his ‘wind up doll routine’ during tonights debate.
The Republican congresswoman also took aim at Gov. Kathy Hochul, a common trend on her social platforms.
New Yorkers love authenticity & New Yorkers can smell a phony a mile away.
And the vibe of Mamdani in this debate is a PHONY.
Mamdani’s wind up doll routine is getting unmasked for the Communist jihadist he is.
Notice Mamdani cracks with only very minor follow ups.
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) October 23, 2025
After the last NYC Mayoral debate viral moment when all three candidates refused to support Kathy Hochul for re-election, the moderators didn’t dare ask it again.— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) October 23, 2025
Mamdani supporters concerned after his lackluster performance: ‘I don’t think he did that well’
By Marie Pohl
Zohran Mamdani supporters at a watch party at Blondie’s sports bar on the Upper West Side are not coming away celebrating the frontrunner’s debate performance tonight:
In general mood is not as enthusiastic as it was after the last debate. People
seem a little concerned. “I don’t think he did that well.” One girl tells her friend.The Uptown crowd is more mixed. There are many older supporters here.
— Mayoral Debate NYC (@MayoralNyc) October 23, 2025
“I want to see some new blood.” an older woman tells me outside of Blondies.
“I liked Cuomo when he was he was Governor but I can’t vote for someone who molested women.”
“I do think that Cuomo and Sliwa were stronger today than at the last debate.”— Mayoral Debate NYC (@MayoralNyc) October 23, 2025
Mamdani brings Cuomo sexual assault accuser to post-debate spin room
On Tisch: “This is a decision that I’ve made to further the agenda that I have been running on” he said they have spoken over the phone and that he has made his decision but declines to give a straight answer on if she has agreed.— Hannah Fierick (@HannahFNYP) October 23, 2025
Cuomo heads straight to Knicks game to sit court side with Mayor Adams
Foes turned friends — at least when the Knicks are playing.
Independent NYC mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo rushed from Long Island City to Madison Square Garden when tonight’s debate wrapped, to sit court side with none other than current mayor Eric Adams, who dropped out of the race last month.
Sliwa vows to be Mamdani’s ‘worst nightmare’ if Dem Socialist is elected mayor
In the post-debate spin room:
On if he would work with Mamdani in a future administration
“I will organize resistance, because I will improve, I will not move. So on Mamdani can bet that I will be his worst nightmare.”
— Hannah Fierick (@HannahFNYP) October 23, 2025
Curtis Sliwa declares himself debate winner, adamant he’s not dropping out of mayoral race
In the spin room minutes after the debate wraps:
“I am declaring myself the victor of tonight’s debate,” says Curtis Sliwa.
“I’m not dropping out.”
“He’s not friend of mine he’s in the back pocket of billionaires to,” he says about Mamdani stating he would rank him second. pic.twitter.com/sBYgO7NWpG
— Hannah Fierick (@HannahFNYP) October 23, 2025
Cuomo thanks Mamdani ‘for the compliment’ as candidates say what NY got right during COVID
In a lightning round on what New York City got right during the pandemic, Cuomo was able to score a laugh from debate moderator Errol Louis.
When Sliwa was asked the question, he turned to Cuomo and said “Oh, wow. He didn’t get anything right during the Covid crisis.”
Mamdani answered that it only took him 15 minutes to get his vaccine shot and that was “an efficient experience.”
“Thank you for the compliment,” Cuomo quipped, getting a chuckle out of Errol Louis.
Should people be arrested for soliciting prostitution? Mamdani says no
Zohran Mamdani stuck to his socialist guns saying that people who solicit sex should not be prosecuted.
“Should people be arrested for the solicitation of sex?” moderator Errol Lewis asked.
Mamdani flatly said, “No.”
Curtis Sliwa shouted, “Yes! The pimps, the madams and the absentee landlords. but not the woman.”
Andrew Cuomo added, “It is a criminal offense. I would keep it as it is.”
Sliwa bungles Mamdani’s name again, says he’ll ‘keep practicing’
By Anna Young
Republican Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa bungled Zohran Mamdani’s name — again — and quipped that he’ll “keep practicing” the Ugandan-born candidates name.
During last week’s debate, Sliwa botched the pronunciation of the Democratic Socialist’s name so many times that moderators had to repeatedly stop and correct him.
