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

Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani would ask Jessica Tisch to remain as the NYPD's commissioner if he is elected, according to his campaign.

The news was first reported by The New York Times.

A spokesperson for the NYPD declined to comment.

Governor Kathy Hochul took to social media, calling it "a great decision."

"Tisch has been an incredible partner in driving down crime and making sure ALL New Yorkers are safe. We would be very lucky to have her continue to serve," Hochul said on X.

Word of Mamdani's intention comes just ahead of the last debate before the election when his rivals will no doubt attack his past statements criticizing the police.

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.