Final Debate: Mamdani Leads; Sliwa Quits WABC

A final televised mayoral debate at LaGuardia Community College less than two weeks before the Nov. 4 election featured Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa confronting issues including an ICE raid on Canal Street vendors, transit, housing, education and antisemitism. Mamdani entered the debate with a double-digit lead in polls and presented a forward-looking vision while rivals attacked his record and pressed him for specifics. Cuomo said he would have called the president and used the NYPD in response to the ICE raid, Mamdani promised vendor-permit reforms and rebukes of federal overreach, and Sliwa emphasized negotiation with Trump and a law-and-order approach. Sliwa rejected calls to exit the race, publicly quit his longtime WABC radio job after station leaders urged him to withdraw, and vowed to remain in the contest. With early voting starting Oct. 25 and Election Day on Nov. 4, the debate was likely the last time all three candidates shared a stage before voters decide the next mayor.