POLITICO
Nick Reisman
10/16/2025, 9:15pm ET
Zohran Mamdani did not make any major or minor mistakes. He was calm, smiled and made his points over attacks from rivals Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
Mamdani dominated most of the two-hour debate against his more experienced opponents. His performance was miles better than what he turned in earlier this year during the primary campaign, where he often appeared less confident or flustered.
This evening, it was Cuomo who appeared clinical and bloodless at times, presenting a recitation of facts that might work at a law school symposium, but not in a rapid-fire TV exchange. Long-shot Republican Sliwa brought bravado to the forum, yet he at times came across as too mayoral and a bit staid — even if social media fell in love with his thick New York accent.
Cuomo needed a major moment this evening to trip up Mamdani in order to evaporate Mamdani’s double-digit polling lead. The former governor simply did not get that this evening.
Mamdani also sought to moderate many of his hard-left views, insisting he would not defund the New York City Police Department. Cuomo won some points on his staunch Israel support and experience. But that’s not what will likely decide this election in the coming weeks. Voters remain deeply concerned about the cost of living in expensive New York, and Mamdani has harnessed this issue of the political age. He stayed on message throughout the debate — even at the end by declaring he’s more concerned about affordability than in weighing in on the Christopher Columbus statue.
Hammering those affordability points with an affable, calm demeanor against his opponents came through in the first general election debate. It served Mamdani well.
Because of his ability to stay on message, remain calm and make clear cost-of-living points, Zohran Mamdani won the debate.
He’s The Front-Runner (Still). Meanwhile, no one told Andrew Cuomo he isn’t leading the pack. That makes him The Has-Been. And Curtis Sliwa, who tried his best but never caught fire, is The Never-Was.
10/16/2025, 9:15pm ET
Zohran Mamdani did not make any major or minor mistakes. He was calm, smiled and made his points over attacks from rivals Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
Mamdani dominated most of the two-hour debate against his more experienced opponents. His performance was miles better than what he turned in earlier this year during the primary campaign, where he often appeared less confident or flustered.
This evening, it was Cuomo who appeared clinical and bloodless at times, presenting a recitation of facts that might work at a law school symposium, but not in a rapid-fire TV exchange. Long-shot Republican Sliwa brought bravado to the forum, yet he at times came across as too mayoral and a bit staid — even if social media fell in love with his thick New York accent.
Cuomo needed a major moment this evening to trip up Mamdani in order to evaporate Mamdani’s double-digit polling lead. The former governor simply did not get that this evening.
Mamdani also sought to moderate many of his hard-left views, insisting he would not defund the New York City Police Department. Cuomo won some points on his staunch Israel support and experience. But that’s not what will likely decide this election in the coming weeks. Voters remain deeply concerned about the cost of living in expensive New York, and Mamdani has harnessed this issue of the political age. He stayed on message throughout the debate — even at the end by declaring he’s more concerned about affordability than in weighing in on the Christopher Columbus statue.
Hammering those affordability points with an affable, calm demeanor against his opponents came through in the first general election debate. It served Mamdani well.
Because of his ability to stay on message, remain calm and make clear cost-of-living points, Zohran Mamdani won the debate.
He’s The Front-Runner (Still). Meanwhile, no one told Andrew Cuomo he isn’t leading the pack. That makes him The Has-Been. And Curtis Sliwa, who tried his best but never caught fire, is The Never-Was.
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