New York final mayoral debate: Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa to spar again before early voting – live updates

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Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate and mayoral race frontrunner, was seen preparing for tonight’s debate at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens.

Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani prepares before participating in a New York City mayoral debate. Photograph: Getty Images

Sliwa quits radio show in argument with station's billionaire owner

Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has stepped down from his role hosting a local New York radio show after the station’s owner asked him to drop his mayoral bid, according to reports.

Sliwa, famous for his red beret, hit back at 77 WABC owner John Catsimatidis – himself a Republican – and complained the station was giving preferable treatment to former governor Andrew Cuomo.

The New York Post reports, Sliwa said: “You will never see me at the studios of WABC again, never, no matter how this election turns out.”

Catsimatidis denied he asked Sliwa to quit the race but insisted Cuomo’s chances to win far outstripped those of Sliwa. Speaking to the Post, the billionaire businessman said: “I’ve never asked that he leave the race but recommended that a lot of other people have said he should.”

As it was in last week’s debate, Israel and Gaza may become a point of contention tonight.

Mamdani could again face questions about his past remarks on Israel. In the first debate, Cuomo tried to demand that his opponent denounce Hamas, prompting Mamdani to say: “Of course I believe that [Hamas] should lay down their arms … All parties have to cease fire and put down their weapons.”

Cuomo has repeatedly suggested that Mamdani is a danger to Jewish New Yorkers while Mamdani has previously called out Cuomo for failing to visit mosques.

You can catch up on our key takeaways from that first debate here:

How to watch or listen to the debate

The debate is slated from 7 to 9pm ET (plus pre- and post-debate analysis). Wondering where to catch the debate broadcast or stream it? You have several options:

• The debate will air and stream live on Spectrum NY1. It will also be available on YouTube for both English- and Spanish-speaking viewers.

• Co-host WNYC will also broadcast the debate at 93.9 FM and stream it live.

The candidates will probably spar over several high-profile city issues, including public safety, the cost of living, transit, housing, and a litany of ongoing and looming clashes with the Trump administration.

The debate comes the same week that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids related to “selling counterfeit goods” were conducted in New York’s Chinatown neighborhood. The federal agency’s actions drew protesters to city streets – and condemnation from local leaders. The mayoral candidates also weighed in.

Mamdani called the operation an “aggressive and reckless raid on immigrant street vendors”, adding: “Once again, the Trump administration chooses authoritarian theatrics that create fear, not safety. It must stop.”

Cuomo, the independent candidate and former New York governor, characterized the raid an “abuse of federal power by the Trump administration: more about fear than justice, more about politics than safety”.

“This is not who we are, and it will never be NYC when I am mayor,” Cuomo said. “The Statue of Liberty stands in our harbor, not as a decoration, but as a declaration of our values and the promise of America.”

In a statement to the Gothamist, a spokesperson for Sliwa said the Republican candidate believes “the backs of restaurants and other service industries should not be the focus of immigration enforcement”, and that the federal government should prioritize the deportation of “gang members, sex traffickers and those involved in major crimes”.

All three candidates have stated that Donald Trump should not deploy troops to New York City.

Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa to spar again before early voting

Hello and welcome to our New York mayoral debate live blog. Voters in New York City will get one last opportunity to see the three candidates – Democrat Zohran Mamdani, independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa – make their arguments in the public forum about why they are the best person to run the largest US city.

This second and final matchup comes a few days before the start of early voting, which runs from Saturday, 25 October through Sunday, 2 November. Registered voters who don’t opt for those early ballots can cast them on Tuesday, 4 November.

The two-hour debate kicks off at 7pm ET, hosted by Spectrum NY1, WNYC/Gothamist and the City. The mayoral race has received international attention, mainly regarding Mamdani, the state assembly member and democratic socialist whose optimistic, populist messaging has resonated with many New Yorkers.

We’ll bring you all the latest news and reactions from the debate as we get them.