As the New York City mayoral candidates made their final push, an intense campaign and tightening polls had them crisscrossing the five boroughs on the last day of early voting. The race, featuring Democrat Zohran Mamdani, independent Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa, has been characterized by a palpable enthusiasm among voters. On Sunday, sunny skies encouraged a surge of activity at the polls, with some voters facing wait times exceeding 50 minutes at various voting locations.
According to the New York City Board of Elections, the unofficial tally revealed that over 735,000 ballots were cast during the early voting period. This impressive turnout reflects the heightened interest in this election cycle, as candidates ramp up their efforts to mobilize voters.
Each candidate vying for the prestigious Gracie Mansion was laser-focused on motivating voters. Among them, Mamdani, a Queens assemblyman, remains a frontrunner. His campaign mobilized an army of over 100,000 volunteers, all aiming to shatter the state record for door-to-door canvassing. On this pivotal Sunday, Mamdani's goal was to ring doorbells at an unprecedented 200,000 homes.
The previous record for a single day of canvassing was 176,000, set just before the 2024 presidential election. Mamdani passionately emphasized the power of grassroots efforts, stating, "Remember that your hands, whether you use them to vote, knock, or make phone calls, are more powerful than any commercial, any poll, or any prediction of what Tuesday will look like."
The race has not been without its share of heated exchanges. Responding to questions about the aggressive tactics used against him, Mamdani expressed his surprise at some of the language employed during the campaign. "There have been moments where even I have been shocked by the language that has been used in this race," he remarked, highlighting the increasingly contentious atmosphere.
Mamdani also took aim at former Governor Cuomo, criticizing him for allegedly aligning with unsavory political figures. "I'm running to be the next mayor of New York City, and one of my opponents, Andrew Cuomo, has spent these final days of this race not content with being President Trump's puppet, but now seeking to become Trump's parrot," Mamdani stated, reflecting the rising tensions between the candidates.
Meanwhile, Cuomo, who was seen engaging with voters in the Bronx after addressing parishioners at the Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church, emphasized his extensive experience in governance. "You need to have somebody who has the experience to do it. That's what I do," Cuomo asserted. He humorously added, "I don't do a lot of things well in life. You don't want to hear me sing. You don't want to see me dance. But I know how to make government work. I've been doing it since I was 18 years old."
Not to be overlooked, Sliwa made his presence known as he encouraged voters to exercise their rights, vowing to continue advocating for his platform regardless of the election outcome. "I will approve. I will not move. I'll not flee. I'm right. I would fight for what I know is right," Sliwa declared. His commitment to political engagement underscores the competitive spirit of this mayoral race, where each candidate is determined to leave a lasting impact.
As the election day approaches, the dynamics of this New York City mayoral race continue to evolve, with candidates ramping up their efforts to connect with voters and secure their place in history.
