Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa spar over housing, city noise and Trump

Three leading candidates for New York City mayor took the stage at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan on Thursday to pitch for leadership of America's largest city.

Early voting in the race is set to begin next week, and the latest polls show Zoran Mamdani increasing his lead to 46%, with Andrew Cuomo at 33%.

The outcome of the race could have political ramifications beyond the Empire State, as President Donald Trump looms large and whoever wins will likely face some form of pressure from Washington.

The Democratic Party nationally is likely to be watching to see whether America's largest stronghold of establishment Democrats will elect a centrist figure in Cuomo, who is running as an independent, or the progressive Mamdani.

The winner could help determine which candidate and platform Democrats choose in the future after their stunning defeat by Trump in 2024.

Republicans will also be watching to see whether their candidate Curtis Sliwa continues to push his public safety platform.

Here are five important takeaways from today's debate.

Mamdani's past statements about Israel and the Palestinians came up several times throughout the night, both in questions from moderators and in criticism from opponents.

The candidate emphasized his support for Palestinians and statehood and criticized Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip.

He was also criticized for refusing to condemn the phrase “globalization of the intifada” when questioned by interviewers. Many Jews argue the slogan is an anti-Semitic call for violence, but pro-Palestinian activists say it is a call for international solidarity with the Palestinians.

Mamdani said he would strive to be a mayor for all New Yorkers, including its large and ideologically diverse Jewish population.

Cuomo criticized Mamdani for his views, calling the New York state legislator “divisive on all fronts.”

There were three candidates in tonight's debate, but a fourth name kept popping up: Donald Trump.

The president has signaled he wants to send the National Guard into Democratic-controlled cities and has decided to withhold public funds for infrastructure projects in New York.

Trump has also prioritized the city in his mass deportation policy, and the mayor, who has little power over federal immigration authorities, will likely have to weigh the city's response.

Sliwa, a Republican, noted that the mayor will have to get along with Trump regardless of his political views. But Mamdani expressed his opposition to the president from the very first answer, promising to “challenge Trump.”

Cuomo, meanwhile, has positioned himself as the only candidate experienced enough to deal with the current White House, warning that “it will be Mayor Trump” if Mamdani is elected.

“I fought Donald Trump,” he told voters. “When I fight for New York, I'm not going to stop.”

As big as Trump is, the biggest political issue surrounding this mayoral election is affordability. New Yorkers face high living costs on everything, especially rent and groceries.

In his opening remarks, Sliwa acknowledged the “really serious accessibility challenges” facing the city. He called on the next mayor to vacate empty NYCHA apartments, New York City's public housing program, and let people move in.

Moderators asked each candidate directly how much they paid for rent, groceries, and whether they were paying off their credit card debt each month.

The candidates have floated a number of proposals to address the cost of living, including Mamdani's plan to make buses free and Cuomo's proposal to set income limits for people living in rent-stabilized apartments.

Cuomo criticized Mamdani for living in a rent-stabilized apartment (a type of affordable housing) even though his parents are rich (his mother is film director Mira Nair).

Cuomo also opposed Mamdani's proposed rent freeze for rent-stabilized apartments, saying it would only delay future increases, force building owners into bankruptcy and let down New Yorkers who don't live in rent-stabilized apartments.

“If you think the problem in this city is that my rent is too low, vote for him,” Mamdani said in response. “If you know the problem with this city is that your rent is too high, vote for me.”

Cuomo spoke about his many years in office, rising from federal housing secretary during President Bill Clinton's administration to governor of New York.

However, controversy surrounding his governorship marred his election campaign. He resigned as governor in 2021 after an investigation by the state attorney general found that he sexually harassed 11 women. Cuomo apologized for actions “that made people feel uncomfortable” but denied the accusations.

New York's attorney general also investigated his administration for undercounting nursing home deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic, finding that it undercounted the actual number of deaths.

Mamdani attacked Cuomo on these issues, accusing him of “sending elderly people to die in nursing homes” and accusing him of lacking integrity.

Cuomo said allegations of harm to elderly people in nursing homes are “totally false.”

“During Covid, everyone in this state did the best they could and there were multiple investigations that they went through and they said we followed federal guidelines,” Cuomo said. “But yes, people have died during Covid. And my heart breaks for all the broken people who have died in this state and across this country.”

Sliwa also criticized Cuomo for “the lawsuits filed against him for sexual harassment.” The former governor denied this case presented by New York State Attorney General Letitia Jameswho investigated allegations of misconduct “was political.”

Sliwa remained the only Republican on stage.

His voting bloc may be in the minority in New York, but the 2024 presidential election showed residents are prioritizing public safety issues, something Sliwa has repeatedly pushed for. As the founder of the New York City crime prevention organization Guardian Angels, he took the opportunity to connect with voters.

The longtime New York media and political figure knew how to make himself heard. He frequently intervened, telling moderators that he wanted to speak, and elbowed his way into the most heated moments of the debate. From the center of the stage, he struck both opponents equally.

He felt confident after the debate, saying his evening had gone “extremely well” and likening his opponents to “two kids in a schoolyard.”