Vote 2025: Race for New York City mayor, New Jersey governor and more | Live updates

Curtis Sliwa started his WABC radio appearance Wednesday morning by declaring he will not return to the conservative station as a talk show host, citing multiple recent appearances by Andrew Cuomo.

"You will never see me in the studios of WABC again. Never. No matter how this election turns out," he said.

Sliwa questioned why the host Sid Rosenberg is backing Cuomo, who he had as a guest twice since last Friday.

Both Rosenberg and owner John Catsimatidis called for Sliwa to drop out of the race to potentially stave off a Mamdani win.

"You know there are colleagues at WABC who are going out of their way to criticize me," Sliwa continued. "Why are your colleagues at WABC stabbing you in the back."

He joked WABC sands for "Always Broadcasting Cuomo"

Rosenberg answered that it is not personal, he's "just worried that Mamdani is going to win."

Congresswoman and Democratic nominee for governor Mikie Sherrill holds a five point lead over former state assemblyman and Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli, 50% to 45%, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton poll out Wednesday morning.

The five-point lead is within the margin of error.

Sherrill maintains her narrow lead in the tightening race for New Jersey governor. The last Rutgers-Eagleton poll put her up 44%-35% in August.

Darla Miles has the latest details.

"The contest has narrowed in its final weeks," said Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

Unaffiliated voters prefer Sherrill 49% to 40%. Women are 18 points more likely than men to say they would vote for Sherrill and 16 points less likely to vote for Ciattarelli.

"The outcome will ultimately hinge on each campaign's turnout operation. This is especially true in off-year elections, which are usually accompanied by comparatively smaller and less predictable electorates," Koning added.

President Trump looms large as the election approaches. 52% of voters say he is a "major factor" in their vote for governor, 14% say is a "minor" one and 34% say he isn't a factor at all.

Democrats are much more prone to say Trump is a "major factor" for them (78%) than Republicans (38%). 42% of Independent voters say Trump is a "major factor" for them, 20% a "minor" one and 38% not a factor at all.

Ciattarelli is trusted by more voters on crime and safety (49%-35%), taxes (44%-37%), the state economy and jobs (46%-40%), and the state budget (45%-39%); Sherrill is more trusted on health care (50%-35%) and education (47%-40%).

The two are almost exactly tied on affordability and infrastructure issues.

Both candidates now also have negative net approval ratings, likely the result of the millions of dollars that have been spent lambasting one another on TV; Sherrill is viewed favorably by 42% of voters and unfavorably by 45%, while Ciattarelli is slightly deeper underwater at 41%-47%.

Early voting begins this weekend and the mayoral candidates are preparing for their second and final debate.

The debate is scheduled Oct. 22. from 7 to 8:30 p.m. ET.

Phil Taitt reports.

While we can expect a spar of words between the candidates it is another opportunity to appeal to their base, pick up further support and drive home their final pitch to New Yorkers.

The debate comes amid growing calls for Curtis Sliwa to drop his mayoral bid, from his WABC Radio boss to the New York Post. The belief is that if Sliwa drops out, voters would end up voting for former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo has tried to appeal to his conservative base and said he'd give Sliwa a job in his administration if elected.

Former Governor Jim McGreevey is among the candidates in a crowded field to become Jersey City's next mayor.

McGreevey, who is making a political comeback, has spent several years running the reentry corporation, helping former inmates turn their lives around.

He says soaring housing prices in Jersey City are driving long-time residents away.

James Solomon is a two-term city council member who says he's independent from the developers and the political machine.

"So for me, affordability is the core issue, both because I believe it in my core, but it's also what I hear in the doors every day," Solomon said.

But the race features seven different candidates with different perspectives.

City council president Joyce Watterman says her integrity is her strength.

"Integrity. You know, I want to say that having experience, I mean, local government for 12 years. I think that's important for people to know. I pastor in this city for over 30 years. All right. So I separate myself because I really bring to the table services that people need, understanding how people get through a life which is necessary more so now than ever," Watterman said.

While some candidates have impressive community resumes, the youngest person in the race, at only 28 years old, says he's the one with a vision for the future.

"People want to be in Jersey City. It's one of the most popular destinations across the state of New Jersey, across this region. So to address that problem, we need to make sure that we have housing supply that meets all incomes. Right. My vision for Jersey City is a city where people of all incomes can come and live here," mayoral candidate Mussab Ali said.

County Commissioner Bill O'Dea says his 40 years in public life shows his commitment and experience.

"I know how to put the projects together. And I know how to make sure developers actually do it. So real hands-on experience getting things done. No gap in my resume, right? My resumà goes 40 years straight. Public service and the last 30 years working within the not-for-profit sector and helping small businesses, developing affordable housing, job training programs, all things that are key to what Jersey City needs," O'Dea said.

Five of the seven candidates spoke to Eyewitness News.

It's possible that two of them will meet in a run-off because most believe it is unlikely that one candidate will get more than 50 percent of the vote on election day.

Anthony Johnson has the details.