New York City’s final mayoral debate Wednesday night saw former Governor Andrew Cuomo assert control over the stage, pressing his rivals for detailed policy explanations and highlighting his experience in government. Facing Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, Cuomo emphasized his readiness to govern from day one while scrutinizing his opponents’ proposals and past actions.
Cuomo outlined plans to hire 5,000 police officers to bolster public safety, build 500,000 housing units to reduce costs, maintain mayoral control over schools, and combat antisemitism. “Hands down, Andrew Cuomo was the only candidate on this stage tonight that showed he is ready to govern on Day One,” campaign chairman Bill Mulrow stated in a press release following the debate.
Cuomo repeatedly pressed Mamdani for concrete policy solutions. When asked about education reform, public safety initiatives, and housing strategies, Mamdani provided broad statements but offered limited specifics. Cuomo highlighted these gaps, pointing to Mamdani’s lack of legislative experience in areas such as child care, housing, and education. At several moments, Cuomo mocked his opponent’s slogans, including Mamdani’s “freeze the rent” plan, emphasizing that the mayor lacks direct control over the Rent Guidelines Board and that the proposal would affect only a fraction of New York’s housing units.
Cuomo further positioned himself as capable of managing federal relationships, warning that Mamdani would struggle in dealing with figures such as President Donald Trump. “He thinks he’s a kid and he’s going to knock him on his tuchus,” Cuomo said, referring to Trump’s assessment of Mamdani’s ability to handle national political dynamics.
As the campaign enters its final days, the debate underscored Cuomo’s command of policy detail and his ability to challenge opponents effectively. Observers noted that his performance strengthened his argument that experience and readiness are key qualifications for the mayoralty, setting the stage for a competitive election on November 4.
