A fiery first general election debate brought together Andrew Cuomo, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and Democrat Zohran Mamdani in a tense face-off. With Mamdani eager to defend the momentum that propelled him past Cuomo in the primary, the night saw heightened exchanges and few definitive blows.

New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist and leading figure in the mayoral race, believes he can represent both the city’s progressive movement and its financial sectors. During a high-profile debate, he outlined a platform built on funding public initiatives while pledging to unite divergent interests.