New York City voters have shown strong interest and engagement in the upcoming mayoral election scheduled for Tuesday. The city witnessed a record-breaking turnout during the nine days of early, in-person voting, with over 735,000 votes cast. This number is more than four times higher than the ballots cast in the previous mayoral election in 2021, the only other election to offer early voting.
The mayoral race in New York City always garners national attention due to the city’s significant population of approximately 8.5 million people and its status as the financial capital of the United States. Recent polls indicate that the city is likely to elect its first Muslim mayor, a Democrat, which has led to U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to withhold federal funds from New York.
The three main contenders in the mayoral 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, emerged victorious over Cuomo in the Democratic primary by a substantial margin, prompting Cuomo to enter the race as an Independent candidate.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has centered his campaign on addressing the city’s cost of living and advocating for increased affordability. His policy proposals include raising taxes on the wealthiest individuals in New York City, boosting the corporate tax rate, implementing rent freezes for stabilized apartments, and expanding publicly subsidized housing.
Cuomo, aged 67, is seeking a return to political office after resigning as governor four years ago amid allegations of sexual harassment. Despite his Democratic background, Cuomo has been targeting Republican voters by drawing parallels between Mamdani’s potential administration and left-wing governments in Latin America. He positions himself as the candidate best suited to defeat Mamdani and has pledged to enhance law enforcement efforts and combat crime in the city.
Sliwa, a 71-year-old Republican candidate, trails behind the two front-runners in the race. Having run unopposed in the Republican primary, Sliwa is vying for the mayoral position for a second time after a significant defeat in the 2021 election. He is known for his activism in New York City, having founded the Guardian Angels in 1979, a non-profit organization focused on combating street crime and violence. Sliwa’s campaign priorities include improving the quality of life, especially in the outer boroughs of the city, and emphasizing public safety. He describes himself as an anti-Trump Republican and a staunch advocate for animal rights.
The current mayor of New York, Eric Adams, elected as a Democrat four years ago and planning to run for re-election as an Independent, withdrew from the race due to low polling numbers in September. Despite his withdrawal, Adams’ name remains on the ballot.
Polls in New York’s five boroughs are set to open at 6 a.m. ET and close at 9 p.m. ET on Election Day. Results are anticipated to be swiftly released, with the outcome possibly being more closely contested this time around. Mamdani has been leading in the polls, but Cuomo has recently made gains, narrowing the race.
Throughout the campaign, former President Trump has made controversial remarks, including threats to arrest and deport Mamdani if he wins the election. Trump has also expressed reluctance to provide federal funding to New York in the event of Mamdani’s victory. He has discouraged support for Sliwa as well, urging voters to back Cuomo in order to prevent a Mamdani administration.
Mamdani’s potential win could have significant implications for the Democratic Party, as he has not garnered universal support within the party despite receiving a late endorsement from Democratic U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. While some view Mamdani as a rising star in the Democratic Party, others are concerned about potential Republican efforts to associate him with socialism and instill fear among voters.
The mayoral election in New York City is poised to be a closely watched and pivotal event, shaping the political landscape and potentially setting new dynamics for the city’s governance.
