Zohran Mamdani has been declared the winner of the first debate for the New York City Council, standing out for his calmness and focus on the cost of living.

Democrat Zohran Mamdani, a favorite in the race for New York City Hall, won the first televised debate against former rivals Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. In the two-hour confrontation, Mamdani demonstrated calm and focused behavior, emphasizing the issue of the high cost of living in the city. Unlike his previous performances in the primary campaign, he managed to turn the theme of affordability into a political advantage. Andrew Cuomo, the former governor, tried to highlight his experience, but his speech was perceived as cold and technical. Curtis Sliwa, on the other hand, brought energy and humor, but seemed stiff at times. Mamdani managed to temper some of his leftist positions, stating that he would not cut funding for the New York Police. Political analysts noted that Mamdani was calm, coherent, and focused on the real issues facing voters, thus winning the debate without a doubt.