NBC 4 New York hosted the first of the two New York City mayoral debates on Oct. 16 at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios. All three candidates — Curtis Sliwa, Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani — were present for the entire duration of the event.
Mamdani, the Democrat candidate; Sliwa, the Republican; and Cuomo, the independent, all engaged in a heated debate, discussing issues ranging from the National Guard’s potential presence in New York City to the Israel-Hamas war.
Moderating this debate were David Ushery and Melissa Russo of WNBC-TV, Rosarina Bretón of Telemundo 47 and Sally Goldenberg of Politico New York.
To kick off the debate, the moderators asked each candidate to come up with a headline for what their first year of office would look like, should they be elected. Cuomo was up first.
“Rent down, crime down, education scores up, more jobs in New York City, but optimism high,” Cuomo said.
Sliwa’s headline followed, sharing a similar theme of optimism.
“Curtis Sliwa exceeds all expectations and looks very mayoral tonight,” Sliwa said.
“I believe that they should lay down their arms. I’m proud to be one of the first elected officials in the state who called for a ceasefire.” Zohran Mamdani, mayoral candidate
Mamdani concluded the section with a reference to the Trump administration.
“In about a year, Mamdani continues to take on Trump, delivers on affordability agenda for New Yorkers,” Mamdani said.
The topic of the Israel-Hamas war was addressed during the debate when moderator Ushery focused his question to Mamdani regarding his stance on the conflict.
“For the voters tuning in tonight, Mr. Mamdani, what do you believe about Hamas and how lasting peace will be achieved?” Ushery said.
Mamdani, who has been very vocal in his support for Palestine and his criticism of Israel, has participated in and supported related protest movements. Recently, he attended a vigil on Oct. 7, organized by Israelis for Peace and Lab/Shul, to memorialize the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Mamdani responded to the question by calling for a ceasefire.
“I believe that they should lay down their arms. I’m proud to be one of the first elected officials in the state who called for a ceasefire,” Mamdani said. “The reason that we call for that is not only for the end of the genocide, but also an unimpeded access of humanitarian aid. I, like many New Yorkers, am hopeful that this ceasefire will hold.”
During the debate, each candidate faced scrutiny over key weaknesses in their campaigns. Their flaws were brought into focus by opponents and moderators. Both Sliwa and Cuomo were quick to address that Mamdani has not yet served as an executive official.
“In other words, what the assemblyman said is he has no experience. And this is not a job for someone who has no management experience to run 300,000 people, no financial experience to run a $115 billion budget,” Cuomo said.
“I’m being marginalized out of this.” Curtis Sliwa, mayoral candidate
Mamdani countered and said, “What I don’t have in experience, I make up for integrity. And what you don’t have in integrity, you could never make up for in experience.”
He also pointed to several high-profile incidents that Cuomo was involved in during his time as New York’s governor, including controversies around sexual misconduct and his handling of nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March of 2020, the Cuomo administration required nursing homes to admit COVID-19 positive patients discharged from hospitals in order to free up hospital beds. In 2021, New York Attorney General Letitia James revealed that Cuomo’s administration had significantly undercounted the number of deaths at these nursing homes by excluding residents who died in hospitals after being transferred. Mamdani was the first to bring up coronavirus.
“If we have a health pandemic, then why would New Yorkers turn back to the governor who sent seniors to their death(s) in nursing homes? That’s the kind of experience that’s on offer here today,” Mamdani said.
Sliwa attempted to stand out from his fellow opponents, asking the moderators to focus more on him.
“Excuse me,” Sliwa said. “I’m being marginalized out of this.”
Sliwa, who is running for mayor for the second time, is no stranger to the spotlight. He is known for donning his famous red beret (which he did not wear during the debate) and founding the Guardian Angels, a nonprofit organization that aims to stop crime. First established in New York City, the Guardian Angels have expanded not only across the U.S., but around the world.
The questions then shifted from the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates, to issues facing New Yorkers.
The candidates were all asked what they would do if President Donald Trump were to bring the National Guard into New York City. Sliwa, who supported Trump’s stances on many issues throughout the night, including Trump’s role in the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, answered first.
“I would tell the president of the United States, since I’m familiar with cities all across America, having Guardian Angels there, if you were going to send the National Guard, you don’t need to send them to New York City. There are other cities that could desperately use their help in dealing with their crime crisis,” Sliwa said.
Cuomo agreed, saying that Trump is “not sending in the National Guard to do any real function. It’s control. It’s power. He’s trying to say these Democrats don’t know how to run these cities and it’s a political gesture by sending in the National Guard.”
Mamdani also shared this stance: The National Guard does not need to come to New York City.
“I agree with Police Commissioner Tisch and that we do not need the National Guard here in New York City. We do not need them for the purpose of safety because if it was safety that President Trump was so concerned about, he would send them to the eight out of 10 states that have the highest levels of crime in this country,” Mamdani said.
President Trump has been very vocal about his opinions of Mamdani. In a Truth Social post, Trump said, “Self proclaimed New York City Communist, Zohran Mamdani, who is running for Mayor, will prove to be one of the best things to ever happen to our great Republican Party. He is going to have problems with Washington like no Mayor in the history of our once great City. Remember, he needs the money from me, as President, in order to fulfill all of his FAKE Communist promises.”
Each nominee has received endorsements from elected officials, organizations and other prominent government higher-ups.
Mamdani has also been vocal about President Trump’s opinions of him, going on Fox News for a one-on-one sit-down interview on Oct. 15, asking to speak directly to Trump through the interview.
“I just want to speak directly to the president. I will not be a mayor like Mayor Adams, who will call you to stay out of jail. I won’t be a disgraced governor like Andrew Cuomo, who will call you to ask how to win this election. I can do those things on my own,” Mamdani said.
Each nominee has received endorsements from elected officials, organizations and other prominent government higher-ups. Mamdani has been endorsed by James, New York City Governor Kathy Hochul and former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. Cuomo has been endorsed by New York State Senator Sam Sutton, former independent mayoral candidate Jim Walden and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Sliwa has been endorsed by Representative Elise Stefanik, former New York State Governor George Pataki and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
When asked a question regarding what the mayoral candidates “would say in their theoretical first official call with the president,” Mamdani said Cuomo would not address how Trump
“weaponizes the justice system to go after the attorney general of this state.”
The latest polls show Mamdani leading, followed by Cuomo and then Sliwa.
James, who recently endorsed Mamdani for mayor, was indicted on charges of bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution on Oct. 9 by the federal grand jury. She spoke publicly for the first time since the indictment at Mamdani’s campaign rally on Oct. 13.
The debate wrapped up in a lightning round where each candidate was asked questions ranging from what their go-to deli order is, to whether they would rather watch the Mets or the Knicks play.
Ending off the night in a light-hearted manner, Cuomo and Sliwa shared the same order: “Egg and cheese on a roll. No salt.” Mamdani, a little different, chose, “Egg and cheese on a roll with jalapenos.” In regards to the question on sports, Mamdani and Curtis agreed that they would be supporting the Knicks, while Cuomo would juggle between the two.
The latest polls show Mamdani leading, followed by Cuomo and then Sliwa. On Oct. 22, the three candidates will face off again at 7 p.m. in a debate hosted by Spectrum News NY1.
