With just about two months until Election Day, the New York City Campaign Finance Board rolled out its debate schedule for citywide candidates and WNYC will be among the groups hosting the televised contests.
“At a moment when trust in government is eroded and many people don’t know where to get trustworthy information about elections, the official New York City debates give New Yorkers the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates who are running to represent them,” CFB Executive Director Paul S. Ryan said in a statement.
The first mayoral debate will be held on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 at 7 p.m. and broadcast on NBC 4, which is co-hosting with Telemundo and Politico.
The second mayoral debate will be on Oct. 22, 2025 at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on WNYC and NY1. That will be co-hosted by Spectrum Noticias, the publication The City, the Museum of the City of New York, CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and New York Law School’s Center for New York City and State Law.
PIX 11 — along with partners El Diario NYC, Schneps Media, 1010 WINS, 94.7 WXBK and WINS Noticias — will host debates for public advocate and comptroller as well.
Participation in the debates is required for candidates who meet the debate stage criteria and opted into the city’s matching funds program. The Campaign Finance Board sets certain thresholds for fundraising and polling in order for candidates to qualify.
Candidates who meet the criteria but aren’t participating in the public matching funds program may be invited to the debate by sponsors.
Official debates may be canceled in the event that only one or fewer candidates meet the eligibility requirements by the disclosure statement deadline on Oct. 3, according to the CFB, which added that the final schedule based on the eligibility requirements would be announced once data was available.
The list of citywide debates and sponsors is as follows:
- Public Advocate – 1st General Election Debate (NY1, WNYC)
Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, 7 p.m. | Rebroadcast on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025 - Comptroller – 1st General Election Debate (NY1, WNYC)
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, 7 p.m. - Mayoral – 1st General Election Debate (WNBC)
Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, 7 p.m. - Public Advocate – Leading Contender General Election Debate (PIX11)
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, 7 p.m. - Mayoral – Leading Contender General Election Debate (NY1, WNYC)
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, 7 p.m. - Comptroller – Leading Contender General Election Debate (PIX11)
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, 7 p.m.
