WNBC, NY1, PIX11 to Host Official Citywide Debates for New York City's 2025 Elections
04/17/2025
Debates to Stream on Free Online Platforms; Broadcast in English, Spanish
NEW YORK – The New York City Campaign Finance Board, along with its voter engagement initiative NYC Votes, announced Thursday, April 17, 2025 the broadcast sponsors and schedule for the official 2025 citywide debates. Starting in June, WNBC, NY1, and PIX11 will broadcast the citywide mayoral, comptroller, and public advocate debates ahead of the primary election on June 24. Participation in these debates is required for candidates who opted into the city’s Matching Funds Program and who meet the debate stage criteria.
“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 this June.”
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 equitable for all New Yorkers. Priorities in the evaluation process included making debates available to watch for free on online streaming platforms, simulcasting debates in Spanish as well as making them available for translation into other languages commonly spoken by New Yorkers, 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 also committed to educating the public about using Ranked Choice Voting, in which voters can select up to five candidates in order of preference, in the upcoming primary.
“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.”
Each broadcast sponsor will work in partnership with a slate of media outlets and New York City institutions to produce and publicize this year’s 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."
Primary Debate Schedule
Mayoral – 1st Republican Primary Election Debate (NY1)
Friday, May 30, 2025, 7pm
Comptroller – 1st Republican Primary Election Debate (PIX11)
Monday, June 2, 2025, 7pm
Comptroller – 1st Democratic Primary Election Debate (PIX11)
Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 7pm
Mayoral – 1st Democratic Primary Election Debate (WNBC)
Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 7pm
Public Advocate – 1st Republican Primary Election Debate (PIX11)
Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 7pm
Public Advocate – 1st Democratic Primary Election Debate (PIX11)
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 7pm
Mayoral – Leading Contender Republican Primary Election Debate (PIX11)
Friday, June 6, 2025, 7pm
Comptroller – Leading Contender Democratic Primary Election Debate (NY1)
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 7pm
Mayoral – Leading Contender Democratic Primary Election Debate (NY1)
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 7pm
Comptroller – Leading Contender Republican Primary Election Debate (NY1)
Friday, June 13, 2025, 7pm
Public Advocate – Leading Contender Democratic & Republican Primary Election Debates (WNBC)
Saturday, June 14, 2025 / Sunday, June 15, 2025, Final Date and Time To Be Announced
Debate Participation Criteria
Candidates participating in the city's public matching funds program are required to participate in each debate for which they meet nonpartisan, objective eligibility criteria. Candidates who are not participating in the campaign finance 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 debate is not held. The schedule reflects all potential debates.
The following chart represents the objective criteria for participation in the primary debates for each office:
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Debate |
Office |
Criteria |
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First Primary |
Mayor |
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Public Advocate |
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Comptroller |
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Second Primary |
Mayor |
1. On ballot 2. (a) Raised and spent $2,379,600, OR (b) Raising $250,000 in matchable contributions, including at least 1,000 matchable contributions of $10 or more, OR (c) Achieved at least 5% in one of the following voter preference polls conducted for this election: Siena College Research Institute, The Marist Institute for Public Opinion, Emerson College Polling Center, and Quinnipiac University Polling Institute 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. 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. |
|
Public Advocate |
(b) Raising $125,000 in matchable contributions, including at least 500 matchable contributions of $10 or more |
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Comptroller |
(b) Raising $125,000 in matchable contributions, including at least 500 matchable contributions of $10 or more |
*All raised and spent amounts as of the disclosure statement due on May 23, 2025.
Polling will not be used to determine eligibility for the Second (Leading Contenders) Republican Mayoral Primary debate.
About the New York City Matching Funds Program
New York City’s matching funds program makes our local democracy more equitable 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. Candidates must also agree to a spending limit, which helps ensure voters, not money, decide the outcome of elections.
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 versus a small number of wealthy contributors.
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.