5 things to watch ahead of the first NYC mayoral general election debate

"New York City mayoral candidates Zohran Mamdani (D), Curtis Sliwa (R) and Andrew Cuomo (I) are set to face off in the first of two general election debates on Thursday in the race to succeed New York City Mayor Eric Adams - the first time all three are convening after the mayor exited the race. Mamdani, Sliwa and Cuomo will participate in a debate hosted by NBC 4 New York/WNBC, Telemundo 47/WNJU and Politico starting at 7 p.m. EDT. A second debate is scheduled for Wednesday."

"One priority for Cuomo during Thursday's debate will be convincing Adams's supporters to get behind his campaign, painting himself as the more viable alternative in the race. The Decision Desk HQ polling average of surveys on the New York City mayoral race, as of Sept. 28, the day Adams dropped out, showed Mamdani at 45 percent support and Cuomo at 27 percent. As of Oct. 7, the polling average showed Mamdani at 46 percent support and Cuomo at 31 percent."

Zohran Mamdani, Curtis Sliwa and Andrew Cuomo will appear in the first of two general election debates Thursday, hosted by NBC 4 New York/WNBC, Telemundo 47/WNJU and Politico. Eric Adams announced he would forgo reelection, consolidating the race largely into a three-person contest, and has not endorsed any candidate. Recent polling shows Mamdani leading with roughly mid-40s support while Cuomo polls in the high-20s to low-30s and Sliwa around the low teens. Cuomo will seek to win Adams's supporters and appeal to Sliwa voters to close the gap before November. Two debates remain as opportunities to shift momentum.

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