The polls in New York City are open from 6 AM until 9 PM local time. Once the polls close, the first election results are expected to come in shortly after, continuing throughout the night. In the 2021 mayoral election, the majority of votes were counted before midnight, with the Associated Press declaring Eric Adams the winner around that time. Voters eagerly await to see if this trend will repeat in the current election cycle.
Since winning the Democratic primary, Zohran Mamdani has emerged as the clear front-runner in the race. Recent polls aggregated by the New York Times show Mamdani leading his opponents, with margins ranging from five to 25 points over Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate, and Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after his loss in the Democratic primary.
This year, New York had nine days of early voting, concluding on November 2. An analysis by The City, a local news outlet, revealed that over 732,000 early votes were cast, accounting for 65% of the total vote cast in the entire 2021 mayoral race. This significant turnout highlights the increasing engagement of voters in the electoral process.
Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old assemblyman from Queens, has captured the attention of voters with his campaign focused on affordability in one of the world's priciest cities. Born in Uganda and raised in New York City, Mamdani identifies as a democratic socialist. If elected, he would make history as the city’s first Muslim mayor. Previously a relatively unknown figure in local politics, Mamdani has successfully galvanized a progressive, multiracial grassroots movement that resonates with young voters, working-class families, and communities of color across the five boroughs.
His campaign platform prioritizes key issues such as freezing rent, expanding access to free childcare, and making city buses free. Mamdani is positioning himself as a symbol of generational change and a leader in the revitalization of the Democratic Party's left wing.
Andrew Cuomo, the 67-year-old former governor, initially sought to challenge incumbent mayor Eric Adams as a Democrat. However, following his defeat to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, Cuomo shifted to run as an independent candidate. Despite his extensive political background, Cuomo's campaign, supported by some of the city's wealthiest landlords and corporate donors, has struggled to gain traction against Mamdani's grassroots movement.
Cuomo remains mired in controversies, including a sexual harassment scandal that led to his resignation in 2021 and accusations regarding his handling of nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, he emphasizes his extensive experience, his long record of public service, and his infrastructure accomplishments as key elements of his campaign. High-profile supporters of Cuomo include former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, former president Bill Clinton, and recently, Donald Trump.
Curtis Sliwa is the Republican candidate in the mayoral race, bringing his own unique perspective and platform to the election. As the election draws nearer, voters are keen to see how the dynamics between these candidates will unfold and what impact it will have on the future of New York City.
