Even as Mr. Cuomo has ramped up attacks against the front-runner, Zohran Mamdani, and repeated calls for Curtis Sliwa to drop out, he plans to retain last week’s debate strategy.

New York City mayoral election, with Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa looking to halt the momentum of Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani

In a podcast interview that went viral over the weekend, Sliwa insisted he would stay in the mayoral contest. He took populist shots at the wealthy people trying to get him out and took direct aim at the claim Cuomo needs him to quit in order to win.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo of fleeing his role as governor amid an impeachment inquiry during a mayoral debate on Oct. 10, 2025. (Credit: Spectrum News NY1)

Cuomo then took direct aim at one of Mamdani’s signature policies: freezing the rent “And by the way, it’s all because the mayor doesn’t have the power to do it anyway. The Rent Guidelines Board does, and he doesn’t control the Rent Guidelines board, so nothing is going to happen,” he said to applause.

After his disastrous performance in the primary, New York's former governor is hoping his second time on the ballot this year is the charm.

Andrew Cuomo attacked Zohran Mamdani after 650 rabbis said Mr. Mamdani’s election would threaten Jews’ safety. Mr. Mamdani said he was being criticized because he could become the city’s first Muslim mayor.