Trading barbs from light-hearted to vicious, mayoral candidates make final appeal to New Yorkers

New york city City mayoral competitors non-stop slammed their challengers as they made their last pitch to citizens Wednesday night in the last argument before early ballot begins this Saturday.

Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, Independent prospect and previous Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Republican politician candidate Curtis Sliwa as soon as again traded barbs on the argument phase, conference for the 2nd time in less than a week.

Wednesday’s argument at LaGuardia Neighborhood College in Long Island City came as billionaires required Sliwa to leave of the mayoral race today to combine assistance for Cuomo versus Mamdani, and as more than 650 rabbis across the country, consisting of those from the biggest New york city City synagogues, signed an open letter condemning Mamdani for what they stated was anti-Israel rhetoric.

‘ TIME FOR A MODIFICATION’: OUTSIDE 30 ROCK, NEW YORKERS TRADE CHANTS AND ARGUMENTS THROUGHOUT TENSE MAYORAL FACE-OFF

TOP 5 MINUTES FROM INTENSE NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL ARGUMENT: ‘HE ACTUALLY HAS NEVER HAD A TASK’

Both concerns were on complete display screen Wednesday night, as the mediators pushed Sliwa about remaining in the race and Mamdani fielded concerns about his assistance for Israel.

When asked if Mamdani has any is sorry for about his “longstanding” anti-Israel views, the Democratic socialist verified his dedication to securing Jewish New Yorkers.

” You will not knock ‘globalize the intifada,’ which implies, ‘Eliminate Jews.’ There’s unmatched worry in New york city. It was not a number of rabbis. It was 650 rabbis who signed the letter, not a number of,” Cuomo stated. While Mamdani declined to condemn the expression “globalize the intifada” throughout the main, he has because stated he would “prevent” others from utilizing the motto.

” I have actually spoken with Jewish New Yorkers about their worries about antisemitism in this city and what they should have is a leader who takes it seriously, who roots it out of these 5 districts, not one who weaponizes it as a method by which to score political points on an argument phase,” Mamdani fired back in an intense minute on the argument phase.

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani and Republican politician candidate Curtis Sliwa took part in the 2nd New york city City mayoral argument at LaGuardia Neighborhood College in Long Island City, Queens, on Oct. 22, 2025, in New York City City. ( Hiroko Masuike/Pool/Getty Images)

Sliwa likewise chimed in, informing Mamdani that Jewish Brand-new Yorkers are “scared” and “frightened.”

” They see you as the arsonist who fanned the flames of antisemitism,” Sliwa charged, while implicating him of remaining in assistance of the “international jihad.” New York City Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand needed to release an apology previously this year for “mischaracterizing Mamdani’s record” when she made the exact same ramification.

” I have never ever, not as soon as, spoken in assistance of international jihad,” Mamdani stated. “That is not something that I have actually stated which continues to be credited me. And honestly, I believe much of it relates to the truth that I am the very first Muslim prospect to be on the precipice of winning this election.”

Mediators for the last New york city City mayoral argument were Spectrum News NY1 Political Anchor Errol Louis, WNYC’s Brian Lehrer and THE CITY’s Katie Honan.

The very first concern presented to prospects throughout Wednesday’s argument concentrated on the federal raid in New york city City’s Chinatown area on Tuesday that caused the arrest of 9 migrants from West Africa who remained in the United States unlawfully, according to the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Migration and Customs Enforcement.

New York City City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s fans collected outdoors LaGuardia Neighborhood College in Long Island City in New York City City Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. ( Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)

All 3 prospects concurred that the Trump administration was beyond its jurisdiction on Tuesday. Cuomo called the raid “hazardous.”

” You do not send out ICE in without collaborating with our cops,” Cuomo stated, arguing he would have personally called President Donald Trump if he was mayor to inform him the administration was “escape of bounds.” Sliwa concurred that the matter ought to have been left approximately the NYPD.

Mamdani took the criticism an action even more, calling ICE a “careless entity that cares little for the law and even less for individuals that they’re expected to serve,” and prompting an “end to the chapter of partnership in between Town hall and the federal government, which we have actually seen under” Mayor Eric Adams, who is no longer looking for re-election and constructed a track record for his desire to work together with the Trump administration on migration reform.

At one point, prospects were permitted to ask their challengers a concern, stimulating a tense minute in between Cuomo and Mamdani. Cuomo questioned how Mamdani might position for an image with an anti-LGBTQ supporter. Mamdani stated had he understood, he would not have actually accepted take the photo.

Mamdani clapped back, asking Cuomo,” What do you state to the 13 ladies that you sexually pestered?” Cuomo has actually continued to reject the claims and stated the cases were dropped.

The most recent Fox News study, performed Oct. 10-14, ahead of the very first basic election argument recently, exposed that Mamdani has actually gotten a significant lead in the New york city City mayoral race as citizens see him as the very best prospect to take on the city’s leading issues.

According to the survey, Mamdani has a 21-point lead amongst New York City City signed up citizens with 49% of citizens backing Mamdani, while 28% choose Cuomo and 13% favor Sliwa. Mamdani likewise increased above the 50% limit amongst most likely citizens, amassing 52% assistance, while Cuomo got 28%, and Sliwa got simply 14%.

Fans for New York City City Republican politician mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa collected outside LaGuardia Neighborhood College in Long Island City ahead of the last argument Wednesday, Oct. 22. ( Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)

However as Mamdani, ever the social media-savvy prospect, cautioned his fans on Wednesday, it was Cuomo who was the preferred to win the election simply weeks before the Democratic primary. By combining assistance with New york city City Comptroller Brad Lander, cross-endorsing each other to fall Cuomo through ranked-choice ballot, Mamdani pulled the political upset that has because landed him on the nationwide phase.

Because winning the main, Trump has actually identified Mamdani a “100% Communist ” and “my little Communist.” Mamdani has actually declined that name, verifying that he is a democratic socialist.

However, the odd-year election has actually mesmerized a nationwide audience at a time when Democrats are still coming to grips with destructive losses in 2015. And with Trump back in the White Home, Democrats across the country are looking for to take advantage of growing discontent over Trump’s sweeping, second-term program.

Less than 2 hours before prospects took the phase on Wednesday, The New york city Times reported that Mamdani plans to keep New york city City Authorities Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch on as his cops commissioner if chosen in November, pointing out 2 senior project assistants and 2 more sources who were informed on the strategies.

” I can verify that reporting,” Mamdani stated on the argument phase. “My administration will be ruthless in its pursuit of security and price for every single New Yorker, and the shipment of that will need us to create a group of the very best and the brightest.”

Mamdani praised Tisch for handling a “damaged status quo charter to provide responsibility, rooting out corruption and lowering criminal offense throughout the 5 districts.” Cuomo and Sliwa likewise verified they would keep her on as commissioner if chosen.

The Democratic candidate has actually dealt with a variety of criticism on the project trial for his previous remarks, consisting of calling the NYPD “racist, anti‑queer & & a significant risk to public security” in 2020, to name a few insults Mamdani made a public apology to the NYPD throughout a Fox News interview recently.

Ahead of those competitive midterm elections anticipated next year, Republicans have actually currently taken on Mamdani’s progressive politics, consisting of Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who is thinking about a run for guv. Her project stated in a current declaration, “Kathy Hochul actually has actually backed a complete blown jihadist pro-terrorism Mayor of New york city City.”

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., backed Mamdani last month after formerly keeping her assistance. Fellow New York City Democrats Home Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have still yet to coalesce behind the Democratic candidate for New york city City mayor, although Jeffries suggested today that a choice impends.

Today, Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis and hedge fund CEO Costs Ackman, prompted Sliwa to leave of the race, arguing that an elect Sliwa is an elect Mamdani. The New york city Post editorial board even signed up with the calls for Sliwa to leave, however the Republican candidate has actually kept that he is remaining in the race.

Fox News’ Kirill Clark added to this report.