New Yorkers Vote in High-Stakes Mayoral Race

New Yorkers voted Tuesday in a high-profile mayoral contest between Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, with more than a million expected to participate after hundreds of thousands cast early ballots. Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic socialist, ran on affordability proposals such as rent freezes, universal childcare and free buses and energized young, progressive voters while drawing criticism over his experience and past positions on policing and Israel. Cuomo ran as an independent after losing the Democratic primary and resigning amid sexual-harassment findings, positioning himself as a steadier, experience-focused alternative emphasizing public safety. The city's ranked-choice voting system and strong youth turnout complicated counting and could delay a definitive result, even as recent polls showed Mamdani with a lead in several surveys. The outcome was viewed as consequential for the Democratic Party's direction and urban policy debates, unfolding alongside pivotal gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia where national figures were campaigning to influence turnout.