Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa clash bitterly during final NYC mayoral debate
Source: AP
By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE and JILL COLVIN
Updated 3:27 AM CDT, October 23, 2025
NEW YORK (AP) — Zohran Mamdani was attacked over his thin resume, Republican Curtis Sliwa strove to prove his seriousness as a candidate and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo was pressed on the sexual harassment allegations that drove him from office in a contentious final debate in New York City’s mayoral race.
While Mamdani, the frontrunner, began by accusing his rivals of being consumed by fighting — suggesting he would try to focus instead on his vision for New Yorkers — the state assemblymember joined them in mud as he tried to create viral social media moments, included inviting one of Cuomo’s accusers to appear in the audience.
Cuomo, running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, fared better Wednesday than during their first debate. He used its focus on the day-to-day of running the city to showcase his political experience.
Though he has urged Sliwa to drop his bid to avoid splitting the anti-Mamdani vote, he didn’t bring up his request during the debate. Instead he worked to cast Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, as out of his league, highlighting his pro-Palestinian advocacy and President Donald Trump’s threats to take over the city if he wins.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/mamdani-cuomo-sliwa-nyc-mayor-election-debate-982e44969868d8a7a3c69cf4023f9533
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