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

New York City mayoral contenders relentlessly criticized their opponents as they made their final pitch to voters Wednesday night in the last debate before early voting starts this Saturday Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani Independent candidate and former Gov Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa once again traded barbs on the debate stage meeting for the second time in less than a week Wednesday's debate at LaGuardia Society College in Long Island City came as billionaires called for Sliwa to drop out of the mayoral race this week to consolidate backing for Cuomo against Mamdani and as more than rabbis nationwide including those from the largest New York City synagogues signed an open letter condemning Mamdani for what they announced was anti-Israel rhetoric 'TIME FOR A CHANGE OUTSIDE ROCK NEW YORKERS TRANSACTION CHANTS AND ARGUMENTS DURING TENSE MAYORAL SHOWDOWNTOP MOMENTS FROM FIERY NYC MAYORAL DEBATE 'HE LITERALLY HAS NEVER HAD A JOB'Both issues were on full display Wednesday night as the moderators pressed Sliwa about staying in the race and Mamdani fielded questions about his aid for Israel When questioned if Mamdani has any regrets about his longstanding anti-Israel views the Democratic socialist affirmed his commitment to protecting Jewish New Yorkers You won't denounce globalize the intifada which means Kill Jews There's unprecedented fear in New York It was not several rabbis It was rabbis who signed the letter not several Cuomo disclosed While Mamdani refused to condemn the phrase globalize the intifada during the primary he has since reported he would discourage others from using the slogan I've heard from Jewish New Yorkers about their fears about antisemitism in this city and what they deserve is a leader who takes it seriously who roots it out of these five boroughs not one who weaponizes it as a means by which to amount political points on a debate stage Mamdani fired back in a fiery moment on the debate stage Sliwa also chimed in telling Mamdani that Jewish New Yorkers are frightened and scared They view you as the arsonist who fanned the flames of antisemitism Sliwa charged while accusing him of being in sponsorship of the global jihad New York Democratic Sen Kirsten Gillibrand had to issue an apology earlier this year for mischaracterizing Mamdani s record when she made the same implication I have never not once spoken in sponsorship of global jihad Mamdani announced That is not something that I have commented and that continues to be ascribed to me And frankly I think much of it has to do with the fact that I am the first Muslim candidate to be on the precipice of winning this voting process Moderators for the final New York City mayoral debate were Spectrum News NY Political Anchor Errol Louis WNYC s Brian Lehrer and THE CITY s Katie Honan The first question posed to candidates during Wednesday's debate focused on the federal raid in New York City's Chinatown neighborhood on Tuesday that led to the arrest of nine immigrants from West Africa who were in the United States illegally according to the Department of Homeland Safeguard and U S Immigration and Customs Enforcement All three candidates agreed that the Trump administration was beyond its jurisdiction on Tuesday Cuomo called the raid dangerous You don't send ICE in without coordinating with our police Cuomo announced arguing he would have personally called President Donald Trump if he was mayor to tell him the administration was way out of bounds Sliwa agreed that the matter should have been left up to the NYPD Mamdani took the criticism a step further calling ICE a reckless entity that cares little for the law and even less for the people that they're supposed to serve and urging an end to the chapter of collaboration between City Hall and the federal executive which we've seen under Mayor Eric Adams who is no longer seeking re-election and built a reputation for his willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration on immigration overhaul At one point candidates were allowed to ask their opponents a question sparking a tense moment between Cuomo and Mamdani Cuomo questioned how Mamdani could pose for a photo with an anti-LGBTQ advocate Mamdani announced had he known he wouldn't have agreed to take the picture Mamdani clapped back asking Cuomo What do you say to the women that you sexually harassed Cuomo has continued to deny the claims and declared the cases were dropped The latest Fox News survey conducted Oct - ahead of the first general electoral contest debate last week revealed that Mamdani has gained a substantial lead in the New York City mayoral race as voters see him as the best candidate to tackle the city s top problems According to the poll Mamdani has a -point lead among New York City registered voters with of voters backing Mamdani while go for Cuomo and favor Sliwa Mamdani also rose above the threshold among likely voters garnering promotion while Cuomo picked up and Sliwa received just But as Mamdani ever the social media-savvy candidate warned his followers on Wednesday it was Cuomo who was the favorite to win the nomination just weeks before the Democratic primary By consolidating help with New York City Comptroller Brad Lander cross-endorsing each other to topple Cuomo through ranked-choice voting Mamdani pulled the political upset that has since landed him on the national stage Since winning the primary Trump has labeled Mamdani a Communist Lunatic and my little Communist Mamdani has rejected that moniker affirming that he is a democratic socialist Nevertheless the odd-year voting process has captivated a national audience at a time when Democrats are still grappling with devastating losses last year And with Trump back in the White House Democrats nationwide are seeking to capitalize on growing discontent over Trump's sweeping second-term agenda Less than two hours before candidates took the stage on Wednesday The New York Times disclosed that Mamdani intends to keep New York City Police Department NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch on as his police commissioner if elected in November citing two senior campaign aides and two more sources who were briefed on the plans I can confirm that reporting Mamdani stated on the debate stage My administration will be relentless in its pursuit of safety and affordability for every New Yorker and the delivery of that will require us to put together a organization of the best and the brightest Mamdani applauded Tisch for taking on a broken status quo charter to deliver accountability rooting out corruption and reducing crime across the five boroughs Cuomo and Sliwa also proven they would keep her on as commissioner if elected The Democratic nominee has faced a slew of criticism on the campaign trial for his past comments including calling the NYPD racist anti queer a major threat to inhabitants safety in among other insults Mamdani made a society apology to the NYPD during a Fox News interview last week Ahead of those competitive midterm elections expected next year Republicans have already seized on Mamdani's progressive politics including Rep Elise Stefanik R-N Y who is considering a run for governor Her campaign noted in a modern message Kathy Hochul literally has endorsed a full blown jihadist pro-terrorism Mayor of New York City Gov Kathy Hochul D-N Y endorsed Mamdani last month after previously withholding her advocacy Fellow New York Democrats House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have still yet to coalesce behind the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor although Jeffries indicated this week that a decision is imminent This week Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis and hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman urged Sliwa to drop out of the race arguing that a vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani The New York Post editorial board even joined the calls for Sliwa to drop out but the Republican nominee has maintained that he is staying in the race Fox News' Kirill Clark contributed to this document