The first New York City mayoral debate of the 2025 race, held on October 16, featured the three primary candidates: Zohran Mamdani (Democrat), Andrew Cuomo (Independent, former governor), and Curtis Sliwa (Republican). While the debate was contentious and marked by sharp exchanges, the general consensus from news sources highlights Zohran Mamdani as the standout performer. Mamdani, who currently leads in the polls, adopted an aggressive stance attacking Cuomo on issues of housing affordability, integrity, and his record. Cuomo struggled to land a decisive blow and spent much of the debate on defense. Sliwa had limited impact due to fewer speaking opportunities. Overall, Mamdani is seen as the debate winner for presenting a clear, passionate vision and maintaining his lead as front-runner going into early voting next week.

Mamdani emphasized affordability and criticized Cuomo’s ties to wealthy backers while Cuomo focused on his experience and tried to question Mamdani’s readiness. The tone was sharp, but no candidate gained a definitive knockout victory. The race remains competitive, with a second debate scheduled for October 22, but the October 16 debate helped Mamdani solidify his lead in the eyes of many observers.

In summary, Zohran Mamdani won the NYC mayoral debate held on October 16, 2025, by effectively defending his lead, sharply criticizing his opponents, and focusing the discussion on key issues like affordability and city leadership challenges.