New York City is just a day away from electing its next mayor and Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani—a democratic socialist on his party's hard left—is still leading the polls by a distance.
The Real Clear Polling average of polls puts Mamdani's advantage at +14.7 points over his nearest rival, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
New Yorkers are choosing between Mamdani, Cuomo—who is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary—and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa to lead America's largest city.
- Zohran Mamdani is leading most of the polls by double-digits heading into election day
- Republican President Donald Trump says NYC's federal funding is at risk if "communist" Mamdani wins
- Early voting ended on Friday ahead of polling day on Tuesday, November 4
- More than 735,000 voters cast early ballots—historic for the mayoral election—many of them younger New Yorkers
- Current New York City Mayor Eric Adams, an independent former Democrat, endorsed Cuomo
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, endorsed Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani heads into Election Day with momentum and scrutiny
With less than 24 hours until polls open, Zohran Mamdani is poised for another major political upset after his 13-point primary win over Andrew Cuomo. The 34-year-old state assemblyman has energized a younger, progressive base while unsettling New York’s business elite and drawing sharp criticism from segments of the city’s Jewish community over his past statements on Israel.
Since June, Mamdani has faced intensified media attention and opposition research, which have revealed controversial aspects of his background and past positions. His campaign has responded by emphasizing transparency and contrasting his record with Cuomo’s, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations.
Mamdani has also shown signs of moderation, pledging to retain NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, support new jail construction, and avoid income tax hikes on the wealthy—moves that have distanced him from the Democratic Socialists of America. This group helped launch his political career.
Meanwhile, tensions with President Trump have escalated, with the president threatening to cut federal funding if Mamdani wins. Mamdani has vowed to resist authoritarian overreach while remaining open to collaboration on economic issues.
NYC sees record early voting ahead of high-stakes mayoral election
New York City has recorded its highest early voting turnout for a non-presidential election, with 735,317 check-ins over nine days, according to the Board of Elections. The surge marks a dramatic increase from 2021, when just under 170,000 voters cast early ballots in the general mayoral race.
Brooklyn led the boroughs with 243,737 early votes, followed by Manhattan with 212,679 and Queens with 166,519. The Bronx and Staten Island each saw more than 50,000 check-ins.
The spike in participation reflects growing voter engagement as New Yorkers prepare to elect a new mayor. Democrat Zohran Mamdani, independent Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa are vying to replace outgoing Mayor Eric Adams. Polls show Mamdani maintaining a lead, though some indicate Cuomo is gaining ground.
Voters will also decide on six ballot proposals and fill key city offices, including public advocate, comptroller, borough presidents, City Council seats, and judges. Polls open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
NYC mayoral candidates outline plans to tackle affordability crisis
As New York City grapples with soaring rents and child care costs that can exceed $20,000 annually, mayoral candidates are proposing sharply different solutions to ease the financial burden on residents.
Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani pledges to freeze rents for over 2 million tenants in rent-stabilized units and launch construction of 200,000 union-built, fully affordable homes. His plan centers on public-sector-led development and zoning reform to boost housing supply.
Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo emphasizes supply and tax relief. He proposes building 50,000 affordable homes in his first year, reviving 25,000 rent-stabilized units, and capping property taxes at 2 percent for struggling homeowners. Cuomo also calls for eliminating income taxes for low earners and raising the threshold for the real estate transfer tax.
Republican Curtis Sliwa focuses on stabilizing property taxes and unlocking vacant rent-stabilized apartments. He aims to work with small landlords to identify barriers to occupancy and expand affordable housing options quickly.
With affordability a top concern for voters, each candidate is betting their approach will resonate as New Yorkers head to the polls.
Sliwa edges Cuomo among new NYC voters, poll shows
In a new AtlasIntel poll of New York City voters who did not participate in the 2021 mayoral election, Republican Curtis Sliwa leads independent candidate Andrew Cuomo by four points, 21% to 17%.
Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani dominates the field with 63%.
How will Trump respond to Mamdani’s election win? Five potential scenerios
In the months since Zohran Mamdani’s surprise victory in the Democratic primary to run for New York City mayor, President Donald Trump has ramped up his attacks on the man on the verge of becoming the leader of the nation’s largest city.
Trump has branded Mamdani a “communist,” questioned his citizenship and threatened to arrest him. Beyond that, the president has suggested he would withhold federal funding or deploy federal troops to New York City if Mamdani is elected mayor.
“As President of the United States, I’m not going to let this Communist Lunatic destroy New York,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social site in July. “Rest assured, I hold all the levers, and have all the cards.”
Off-year elections offer early test ahead of 2026 midterms
Millions of voters across the country are casting ballots this week in key off-year elections, with contests in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and California offering an early gauge of public sentiment ahead of the 2026 midterms.
In New York City, a high-profile mayoral race has drawn national attention, while voters in California are weighing a redistricting measure that could reshape the state’s congressional map and influence the balance of power in Washington. Races in New Jersey and Virginia will also test party strength in competitive suburban districts.
A backdrop of economic anxiety and political division heightens the stakes. A new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll shows two-thirds of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, with majorities expressing dissatisfaction with both major parties. The poll also found that more than 60% of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s handling of the economy and federal governance.
Meanwhile, a federal government shutdown continues, with partisan gridlock stalling funding negotiations and freezing pay for hundreds of thousands of workers. Tuesday’s results could send a message to lawmakers and shape the political landscape heading into 2026.
