New York City voters have demonstrated strong interest and participation in the upcoming mayoral election set for Tuesday. Over 735,000 votes were cast during the city’s nine-day early, in-person voting period, a significant increase compared to the 2021 election, which was the only other mayoral race to offer early voting.
Given that New York City is the largest city in the United States with a population of around 8.5 million and serves as the country’s financial hub, the election has garnered national attention. Polls indicate that the city is poised to elect its first Muslim mayor from the Democratic Party, causing former U.S. President Donald Trump to threaten withholding federal funds from New York.
The three main contenders in the mayoral race are Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, and former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an Independent. Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assemblyman, defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary by a significant margin, leading Cuomo to switch to an Independent candidacy.
Mamdani, a self-proclaimed 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, boosting the corporate tax rate, stabilizing apartment rental costs, and expanding publicly subsidized housing.
Cuomo, aged 67, is seeking a comeback to political office after resigning as governor four years ago amidst allegations of sexual harassment. Despite his prior Democratic affiliation, Cuomo has been appealing to Republican voters by aligning a potential Mamdani administration with left-wing regimes in Latin America. He touts himself as the candidate capable of defeating Mamdani and has pledged to enhance law enforcement and reduce crime rates.
Sliwa, who is running as a Republican, trails behind the frontrunners in the race. The 71-year-old activist, founder of the Guardian Angels organization, and former radio host, aims to prioritize quality of life, particularly in the city’s outer boroughs, and emphasize public safety. He has positioned himself as an anti-Trump Republican with a strong advocacy for animal rights.
The current mayor, Adams, elected as a Democrat four years ago, had intended to run for re-election as an Independent but withdrew from the race in September due to poor polling numbers. Despite his withdrawal, Adams’ name will still appear on the ballot.
Polls across New York’s five boroughs are scheduled to open at 6 a.m. ET and close at 9 p.m. ET. The election results are anticipated to be promptly announced, with Mamdani leading but Cuomo making gains in the final days leading up to the election.
Throughout the campaign, Trump has voiced strong opinions, threatening actions if Mamdani wins, including arrests, deportations, and withholding federal funds from New York. Trump has advised against voting for Sliwa, urging support for Cuomo instead to prevent a Mamdani victory.
If Mamdani emerges victorious, the implications for the Democratic Party remain uncertain, as he has received mixed reactions within the party, being hailed as a rising star by some while others fear potential Republican efforts to associate him with socialism.