New York City voters have shown immense interest in the upcoming mayoral election scheduled for Tuesday. A record-breaking 735,000 votes were already cast during the city’s nine-day early, in-person voting period, surpassing the turnout from the 2021 election, the only other mayor’s race with early voting.
With a population of approximately 8.5 million, New York is not only the largest city in the United States but also a significant financial hub, attracting national attention during elections. Polls indicate that the city might elect its first Muslim mayor, a Democrat, leading to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to withhold federal funds from New York.
The three key candidates in the election 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, defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary, prompting Cuomo to switch to an Independent candidacy.
Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, has focused his campaign on addressing the city’s cost of living and affordability issues. His proposed policies include raising taxes on the city’s wealthiest individuals, increasing the corporate tax, freezing stabilized apartment rental rates, and expanding publicly subsidized housing.
Cuomo, aged 67, aims to re-enter political office after resigning as governor four years ago amidst sexual harassment allegations. Despite being a Democrat, he has been targeting Republican voters by criticizing Mamdani’s potential administration and emphasizing public safety measures like hiring more police officers.
Sliwa, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, is a distant third in the race. A longtime New York City activist and founder of the Guardian Angels organization, he is campaigning on quality of life improvements, particularly in the city’s outer boroughs, and public safety initiatives while distancing himself from former President Trump.
The incumbent mayor, Adams, elected as a Democrat four years ago but now running as an Independent, withdrew from the race due to poor polling numbers. However, his 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. The election results are anticipated to be swift, with Adams being declared the winner of the previous mayoral election in 2021 within 10 minutes after the polls closed. The current front-runner, Mamdani, faces a tightening race with Cuomo gaining ground in recent days.
Throughout the campaign, Trump has made threats against Mamdani, including arresting him and taking over the city if he wins. Trump has also discouraged support for Sliwa, warning that backing him would only benefit Mamdani.
Mamdani’s potential victory is seen as significant for the Democratic Party, with mixed reactions within the party regarding his candidacy. While some view him as a promising figure, others fear Republican attempts to associate him with socialism to undermine Democratic support.