NYC Campaign Finance Board Announces Schedule for Official 2025 General Election Debates
08/26/2025
NEW YORK – The New York City Campaign Finance Board, along with its voter engagement initiative NYC Votes, announced Tuesday, August 26, 2025 the broadcast sponsors and schedule for the official 2025 citywide debates for the general election. Starting in October, WNBC, NY1, and PIX11 will broadcast the citywide mayoral, comptroller, and public advocate debates ahead of the general election on November 4. Participation in these debates is required for candidates who opted into the city’s Matching Funds Program and who meet the debate stage criteria.
General Debate Schedule
Public Advocate – 1st General Election Debate (NY1)
Thursday, October 9, 2025, 7pm | Rebroadcast on Sunday, October 12, 2025
Comptroller – 1st General Election Debate (NY1)
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 7pm
Mayoral – 1st General Election Debate (WNBC)
Thursday, October 16, 2025, 7pm
Public Advocate – Leading Contender General Election Debate (PIX11)
Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 7pm
Mayoral – Leading Contender General Election Debate (NY1)
Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 7pm
Comptroller – Leading Contender General Election Debate (PIX11)
Thursday, October 23, 2025, 7pm
The above schedule represents all potential official citywide debates. In the event that only one or fewer candidates meet the eligibility requirements by the disclosure statement deadline on October 3, official required debates may be canceled, although media sponsors may proceed with independent debates. The Campaign Finance Board will announce the final schedule based on eligibility requirements once data are available.
“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,” said Paul S. Ryan, Executive Director of the New York City Campaign Finance Board. “We applaud our media partners for their commitment to ensuring voters – especially those who aren’t tuned into election news – can learn more about their options at the polls in November.”
Media sponsors participated in a comprehensive evaluation process to be selected by the Campaign Finance Board, whose mission is to make the city’s democracy more open, transparent, and accessible to all New Yorkers. Priorities in the evaluation process included making debates available to watch for free on online streaming platforms, simulcasting debates in Spanish, and marketing the debates to viewers who are less likely to be engaged in local politics.
“As we have for every election since 1993, Spectrum News NY1 is covering this year’s city elections in a comprehensive, substantive, and objective manner, engaging meaningfully with all candidates and speaking with New Yorkers about the issues which matter to them,” said Sam Singal, GVP of News and Content at Spectrum News. “In this competitive election year, our role in delivering fair, insightful, and timely political coverage has never been more important. We are not just covering an election; we are helping our audience make informed decisions.”
Media partners are committed to engaging voters across the city, informing New Yorkers on their options for citywide candidates before they go to the polls for the general elections.
“The debates at 30 Rock will be informative, engaging, and help voters make their preferred choices at the ballot box. Our team understands the critical issues facing the city and we’re listening to what New Yorkers want to hear from the candidates,” said Amy Morris, Senior Vice President of News for NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47. “We also look forward to working with the Campaign Finance Board on increasing voter engagement.”
As with the primary debates, each broadcast sponsor will work in partnership with a slate of media outlets and New York City institutions to produce and publicize the general debates:
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WNBC in partnership with Telemundo 47 New York (WNJU), POLITICO
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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, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
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PIX11 in partnership with El Diario NYC, Schneps Media, Audacy NY (1010 WINS, 94.7 WXBK, WINS Noticias)
“PIX11 is proud to serve as an official debate sponsor for the 2025 citywide elections. This partnership with the Campaign Finance Board underscores our deep-rooted mission to inform, empower and represent the diverse voices of New York City,” said Chris McDonnell, Vice President & General Manager, Nexstar's New York City Operation. “As New York's Very Own, and in collaboration with our exceptional media partners — 1010 WINS, El Diario, and Schneps Media — we are committed to delivering inclusive, dynamic and accessible debates that give voters the clarity and insight they deserve.”
Debate Participation Criteria
Candidates participating in the city's public matching funds program are required to take part in each debate for which they meet nonpartisan, objective eligibility criteria. Candidates who are not participating in the city’s public matching funds program may be invited to the debate by the sponsors, if the candidate meets the eligibility criteria.
If only one candidate qualifies for a debate, then that official, Campaign Finance Board-sponsored debate is not held. The schedule reflects all potential debates.
The following chart represents the objective criteria for participation in the general debates for each office:
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First General Election |
Mayor |
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Public Advocate |
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Comptroller |
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Second General Election (Leading Contenders) |
Mayor |
In order to be used in this subsection (c), the poll must: 1) have a margin of error of 4.5% or less, 2) 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. ii. 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. |
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Public Advocate |
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Comptroller |
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*All raised and spent amounts as of the disclosure statement due on October 3, 2025.
Campaigns with questions on the debates schedule, eligibility, or format should contact their Campaign Finance Board liaison directly and look out for future communications from the CFB.
About the New York City Matching Funds Program
New York City’s matching funds program makes our local democracy more accountable, transparent, and inclusive by matching small contributions from everyday New Yorkers to candidates for local office. It allows more ordinary New Yorkers — like teachers, small business owners, and community leaders — to run for office.
Candidates for mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough president, and city council may join the program. In order to qualify, they must collect a minimum number of contributions of $10 or more from the area they’re running to represent, and raise a minimum amount of matchable contributions. By participating in the program, candidates must also agree to a spending limit.
Once a candidate raises the minimum number and amount of donations from their district, eligible contributions to their campaign will be matched by public funds 8:1, so a $10 donation becomes $90 they can spend to run their campaign.
By incentivizing small-dollar donations, the program ensures candidates for city office spend more time talking to their future constituents and hearing what matters to them, and less time courting big donors and special interests. The matching funds program also lifts the veil on who is funding candidates’ campaigns. New Yorkers can see for themselves when a politician has broad community support.
When campaigns are powered by the people, it means elected officials are accountable to all the people they serve, not just those with the deepest pockets.
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The New York City Campaign Finance Board makes it easier for New Yorkers to participate in democracy by administering the city’s public matching funds program, conducting thorough oversight of the program to ensure public funds are being used responsibly, providing the public transparency into how money is raised and spent in local elections, publishing the citywide Voter Guide, and overseeing the official citywide debates.
NYC Votes, the voter engagement initiative of the NYC Campaign Finance Board, focuses on reaching New York City voters, especially those who are underrepresented in the electoral process, and equipping them with the resources they need to participate in our local democracy. The initiative breaks down barriers to participation and inspires New Yorkers to get registered, vote, donate to a candidate (and get their donation matched!), and even run for office.