New York City voters will go to the polls on Nov. 4 to cast their ballots in a three-way mayoral race that could have far-reaching consequences for the city and beyond.
Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party nominee who describes himself as a democratic socialist, is heavily favored to win. He faces former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, and Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee known for wearing a red beret.
Previously, sitting New York City Mayor Eric Adams was also running for reelection as an independent, but he dropped out on Sept. 28 and backed Cuomo.
Cuomo has repeatedly called for Sliwa to back out of the race. Sliwa has rejected that demand.
Despite his rivals’ efforts to consolidate opposition to the self-described democratic socialist, polling shows that Mamdani is overwhelmingly favored to win the race in America’s largest metropolis.
Mamdani has led by double-digits in every poll of New York City voters taken since July. He has garnered about 45 percent of the vote in recent polls, compared to about 30 percent for Cuomo and roughly 15 percent for Sliwa.
He’s also running on “Trump-proofing” New York City through measures such as strengthening New York City’s status as a sanctuary for illegal immigrants.
He has won the backing of progressive figures including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), both of whom similarly describe themselves as democratic socialists.
Mamdani has come under scrutiny for refusing to condemn the phrase “Globalize the Intifada,” which is a call for violence against Jews, though he has said that he discourages the saying.
He also said Israel has a right to exist as a state with equal rights, but he has declined to say whether that should be as a Jewish state.
Cuomo’s platform includes increasing affordable housing, increasing the size of the New York Police Department, expanding access to mental health services, and combating anti-Semitism.
He’s sought to win the support of Jewish voters in New York City who may be alienated by Mamdani’s position on Israel and related issues.
Sliwa faces an uphill battle in New York City, one of the most Democratic-leaning areas of the country.
Sliwa is chief executive of the Guardian Angels, a crime-fighting nonprofit. His platform includes converting commercial spaces into housing, implementing a tough-on-crime agenda, expanding housing for seniors and working families, and hiring more police officers.
Should he match the expectations set by the polls, Mamdani will take the helm of the city of 8 million people at a time of rising tension between Democratic-leaning jurisdictions and the federal government under President Donald Trump.
