New York mayoral race in national spotlight as voters make final decisions

Eyes are on New York City as Election Day arrives, marking the last chance for voters to weigh in in the high-stakes mayoral race.

While New Yorkers are focused on solving key issues of affordability and public safety, the implications of this race could extend beyond the Big Apple.

Along with gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, this off-year local election has attracted national attention and is seen as representative of the political headwinds leading up to the election. 2026 midterms. Especially in New York City, one of the most prominent races on Election Day, candidates are focused on how to navigate the impacts of President Donald Trump’s second term.

State Assemblyman and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani remains the favorite since his surprise election victory. June primaries. The 34-year-old democratic socialist is running on a progressive economic platform with notable social media charm, though he has faced questions from mayoral opponents and others on the issue. feasibility and the effectiveness of his policies, in addition to the negative reactions for comments about Israel and his stance towards the police.

Although Mamdani has garnered endorsements from notable Democratic leaders, his candidacy has shed light on how the Democratic Party has struggled to balance its progressive and moderate sides.

If elected, Mamdani would be the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor. His identity has been the subject of scrutiny throughout the campaign, and Mamdani accused former Governor Andrew Cuomo, an independent candidate, as well as Vice President J.D. Vanceof participating in Islamophobic attacks.

Trump has called Mamdani a “communist lunatic” and threatened to withhold federal funds for New York City if he wins. Although his distaste for Cuomo has been evident, the president declared his preference for Cuomo over the other candidates in a CBS “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday night.

The president endorsed Cuomo on Monday in a social media post. “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You should vote for him and hope he does a fantastic job,” Trump wrote.

Cuomo, 67, has attempted a political comeback after his resignation in 2021 from the New York governorship amid sexual harassment and allegations of inappropriate conduct, allegations he has denied and the charges were dropped. Cuomo has also faced reaction for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic during his tenure as governor.

After losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani in June, he attempted a comeback once again, this time as an independent candidate. Backed by multiple billionaire donors, including former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Cuomo touts his experience and ability to work with Trump as cornerstones of his campaign.

While Mamdani has consistently maintained a healthy lead over Cuomo, a Quinnipiac Poll released Wednesday shows the polls starting to tighten between the two.

Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, 71, who ran an unsuccessful campaign against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams in 2021, is interested in improving public safety, a goal that has been a priority since he founded The Guardian Angels in the 1970s, a nonprofit crime prevention organization.

In addition to receiving criticism from Trump and constantly facing low poll numbers, sliwa He has faced numerous calls to abandon the race, which he has refused.

Adams, who suspended his re-election campaign in September, remains on the ballot as an independent due to his late withdrawal. Despite the harsh words above, he endorsed Cuomo last month and campaigned with him.

New York City has already seen a massive increase in early votingwith five times as many people voting early in 2025 compared to the 2021 mayoral race, according to the New York City Board of Elections.