Overview
- Betting markets and fresh polling showed little shift after the two-hour faceoff, with Polymarket giving Mamdani about 89% odds and a Fox News poll placing him near 50% support.
- Bill Ackman publicly urged Curtis Sliwa to drop out to avoid splitting anti-Mamdani voters, but Sliwa said he will stay in the race as a major-party nominee; Cuomo echoed the vote-splitting concern.
- All three contenders rejected the idea of President Trump sending the National Guard to the city as they outlined contrasting approaches to working with the White House and handling federal funding threats.
- Mamdani faced renewed scrutiny over Israel and Gaza and said Hamas should lay down arms while calling for all parties to cease fire, as Cuomo pressed attacks on his experience and past statements and Sliwa cast both rivals as unsafe on crime.
- The next debate is scheduled for Oct. 22 under Campaign Finance Board rules, with early voting set to begin Oct. 25.