2025 NYC Candidate Debates

Join the conversation. Tune into the NYC debates. 

What are the debates?

• The New York City debates happen every four years alongside elections for citywide offices – Mayor, Comptroller, and Public Advocate. 

2025 Sponsors

WNBC, NY1, and PIX11 will broadcast the citywide mayoral, comptroller, and public advocate debates ahead of the primary election on June 24.

	WNBC in partnership with Telemundo 47 New York (WNJU), and POLITICO
	NY1 in partnership with Spectrum Noticias, WNYC/Gothamist, THE CITY, New York Law School’s Center for New York City and State Law, The Museum of the City of New York, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY,  and John Jay College of Criminal Justice
	PIX11 in partnership with El Diario NYC, Schneps Media, and Audacy NY (1010 WINS, 94.7 WXBK, WINS Noticias)

Why do the debates matter?

• They’re a chance to learn about the candidates’ positions on the issues that matter to you. And they’re a unique opportunity to hear directly from the candidates in conversation with each other.

When are the debates? 

•  In citywide election years, like this year, debates happen just before June’s primary election and November’s general election. 

See the schedule below for when to watch the 2025 Debates, co-sponsored by the New York City Campaign Finance Board, to learn more about the candidates on your ballot. 

Primary Election Debate Schedule
Mayor – 1st Republican Primary Debate	Friday, May 30 at 7 p.m.
Comptroller – 1st Republican Primary Debate	Monday, June 2 at 7 p.m.
Comptroller – 1st Democratic Primary Debate	Tuesday, June 3 at 7 p.m.
Mayor – 1st Democratic Primary Debate	Wednesday, June 4 at 7 p.m.
Public Advocate – 1st Republican Primary Debate	Wednesday, June 4 at 7 p.m.
Public Advocate – 1st Democratic Primary Debate	Thursday, June 5 at 7 p.m.
Mayor – Leading Contender Republican Primary Debate	Friday, June 6 at 7 p.m.
Comptroller – Leading Contender Democratic Primary Debate	Tuesday, June 10 at 7 p.m.
Mayor – Leading Contender Democratic Primary Debate	Thursday, June 12 at 7 p.m.
Comptroller – Leading Contender Republican Primary Debate	Friday, June 13 at 7 p.m.
Public Advocate – Leading Contender Democratic & Republican Primary Debates	TBA

Who participates in the debates?

• Candidates must meet certain criteria to be eligible for the debate stage, including raising and spending enough money to show they have broad support from New Yorkers.

What’s the connection to the Matching Funds Program?

• Participation in official city debates is mandatory for candidates participating in the Matching Funds Program running for citywide office.  
• Both the Matching Funds Program and the debates provide opportunities for New Yorkers to get involved in local elections, by showing your support or getting more informed. The Matching Funds Program makes it easier for ordinary people to run for office by boosting small-dollar donations with public funds. The debates give candidates the opportunity to share their plans and priorities with voters, so voters can see which candidates line up with what matters to them.

How do the debates work?

• The first debate is for any qualifying candidates.
• The second debate is for “leading contenders.” (The definition for “leading contenders” changes each election, but the goal is always to have a debate between candidates with broad support.)

For each of the three citywide offices, there could be up to six debates per year:

• 2 Democratic primary debates
• 2 Republican primary debates
• 2 general election debates 

Independent candidates (those not affiliated with a party) and candidates who are not participating in the Matching Funds Program may be invited to participate in the debates if they meet the other eligibility criteria but are not required to do so.

*If there are not enough competitive candidates, debates may be canceled.

What criteria do candidates have to meet to participate in the debates?

For the first debate, the offices and criteria to participate are as follows:

Mayor

• On ballot
• Raised and spent $198,300

Public Advocate

• On ballot
• Raised and spent $123,975

Comptroller

• On ballot
• Raised and spent $123,975

For the second debate, the offices and criteria to participate are as follows:

Mayor

• On ballot
• (a) Raised and spent $2,379,600, OR
• (b) Raising $250,000 in matchable contributions, including at least 1,000 matchable contributions of $10 or more, OR
• (c) Achieved at least 5% in one of the following voter preference polls conducted for this election: Siena College Research Institute, The Marist Institute for Public Opinion, Emerson College Polling Center, and Quinnipiac University Polling Institute

In order to be used in this subsection (c), the poll must:

• have a margin of error of 4.5% or less,
• include all of the candidates on the ballot (for the election for which the poll is conducted) at the same time the poll is taken*, and be conducted between the date of the ballot certification and eight days prior to the date of the Debate.

*If no such poll exists, this subsection (c) may not be used for Debate eligibility for any candidate, and subsections (a) or (b) will be used to determine Debate eligibility for all candidates on the ballot for the election for which this Debate is being conducted.  

Public Advocate

• On ballot
• (a) Raised and spent $1,487,700, OR
• (b) Raising $125,000 in matchable contributions, including at least 500 matchable contributions of $10 or more 

Comptroller

• On ballot
• (a) Raised and spent $1,487,700, OR 
• (b) Raising $125,000 in matchable contributions, including at least 500 matchable contributions of $10 or more 

*All raised and spent amounts as of the disclosure statement due on May 23, 2025.

Polling will not be used to determine eligibility for the Second (Leading Contenders) Republican Mayoral Primary debate.