New York City voters have demonstrated significant interest and engagement in the upcoming mayoral election scheduled for Tuesday. The city witnessed a record-breaking turnout of over 735,000 votes during the nine-day early, in-person voting period, surpassing the previous mayoral election’s early voting numbers fourfold. Being the largest city in the United States with a population of approximately 8.5 million and a significant financial hub, New York’s mayoral race always garners national attention.
Recent polls indicate that New York could elect its first Muslim mayor, a Democrat, leading to U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to withhold federal funds from the city. The main contenders in the race are Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an Independent. Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assemblyman, secured victory over Cuomo in the Democratic primary by a substantial margin, prompting Cuomo’s decision to run as an Independent.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has focused his campaign on addressing the city’s cost of living issues and advocating for increased affordability. His proposed policies include raising taxes on the wealthiest residents, corporate tax hikes, rent freezes for stabilized apartments, and expanding publicly subsidized housing. On the other hand, Cuomo, aged 67, is seeking a return to political office after resigning as governor amidst sexual harassment allegations. He is positioning himself as the candidate capable of defeating Mamdani and has promised initiatives to enhance law enforcement and reduce crime rates.
Sliwa, a 71-year-old Republican candidate, is trailing behind the two front-runners. A prominent New York City activist, Sliwa founded the Guardian Angels in 1979, a non-profit organization dedicated to combating street crime and violence. Emphasizing quality of life improvements, particularly in the city’s outer boroughs, and public safety enhancements, Sliwa has labeled himself as an anti-Trump Republican.
Unlike previous elections, the current mayoral race does not feature an incumbent, as Mayor Adams, who was elected as a Democrat and planned to run as an Independent for re-election, withdrew from the race due to poor polling numbers. However, Adams’ name will still appear on the ballot.
Polls in New York’s five boroughs will open at 6 a.m. ET and close at 9 p.m. ET, with results anticipated shortly after. Mamdani has been leading in polls, but Cuomo has narrowed the gap in recent days, indicating a potentially closer outcome. Trump has openly criticized Mamdani, threatening consequences if he wins, and has urged voters not to support Sliwa, emphasizing the importance of voting for Cuomo.
While Mamdani received an endorsement from Democratic U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, he has faced mixed reactions within the party. Some view him as a promising figure within the Democratic Party, while others express concerns that Republicans may exploit his socialist platform to portray Democrats negatively.