On Tuesday, voters in New York, the largest city in the United States, will choose a new mayor in a race that has sparked debate across the country and garnered global attention.
Zoran Mamdani, a 34-year-old state Democratic Socialist who surprised many with his victory in the Democratic primary in June, lost the Democratic nomination and is now running against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent. Republican Curtis Sliwa is one of the other candidates.
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Here’s what we know:
What’s happening on Tuesday?
Voters on both coasts of the United States will cast their ballots in a series of elections, including gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, mayoral races in New York, and a vote on redistricting in California.
However, the most notable of these races is the New York mayoral vote.
Who are the candidates for New York City?
The three potential candidates are Zoran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa.
Zoran Mandani
Democratic candidates are running on platforms focused on affordability, calling for a rent freeze, universal child care, cheaper public transportation and raising the minimum wage to $30 an hour. The immigrant, Muslim and democratic socialist’s popularity soared during the election, with nearly 370,000 early votes already cast and a strong appeal to young voters.
Mamdani was born in Uganda to parents of Indian descent. If elected, he would be the city’s first Muslim mayor, first African-born mayor, and first South Asian mayor.
andrew cuomo
Cuomo served as governor of New York from 2011 to 2021, but resigned after a state investigation confirmed allegations of sexual harassment by 13 women. He lost the Democratic primary to Mamdani (56% to 44%) but remained in the race as an independent.
Curtis Sliwa
Sliwa, 71, has resisted pressure to withdraw from the race over fears it would split the anti-Mamdani vote. Known for his trademark red beret, he rose to prominence as the leader of the Guardian Angels, a volunteer crime-fighting group made famous by patrolling the New York subway system.
Who is leading in the polls?
According to the latest RealClearPolitics average, Democratic candidate Mamdani leads the mayoral race with 46.1%, 14.3 points ahead of Mr. Cuomo (31.8%) and 29.8 points ahead of Mr. Sliwa (16.3%).
President Donald Trump and businessman Elon Musk endorsed Cuomo late Monday. It remains unclear whether this high-profile last-minute endorsement will change voter sentiment.
What time do New York polling places open and close?
Polling stations across the city will open at 6am local time on November 4th (11am GMT) and voting will be open until 9pm (2am GMT on November 5th).
Early voting was held from October 25th to November 2nd.
When will I know the results?
In New York, mayoral elections are usually called quickly.
But this time, it could take even longer to finalize the results, as the two candidates are vying for the support of the city’s mostly Democratic voters.
The 2021 mayoral election went by quickly, with Democrat Eric Adams declared the winner shortly after voting closed.
What are the main issues and what is at stake?
Choosing a new mayor is an especially important occasion because we are the most diverse city in the United States and known around the world for our business and culture.
The New York campaign has reflected America’s larger national debate over identity, religion, political beliefs and the future of the country.
Key issues include:
Cost of Living: The city faces one of the tightest housing markets in decades. The city’s vacancy rate in 2023 was 1.41%. This means that out of 1,000 housing units, only 14 were vacant. City officials described 9.2% of all rental housing as “overcrowded.” The number of newly issued housing permits decreased in 2024 compared to 2023.
This makes housing cost and availability a major issue. After California, New York is the most expensive urban hub in the United States to live in.
“Most of us work multiple jobs and either can’t make the rent or the rent is going up,” city voter Tom Glover told Al Jazeera.
Law and order: Serious crimes such as murders in the city have fallen from a 17-year high in 2023. However, low-level crimes such as shoplifting are still higher than before the coronavirus pandemic, raising public concerns about safety and disorder.
Migration: The city has long attracted people from all over the world, from its historic role as a gateway for immigrants to the recent influx of asylum seekers that critics say is putting a new strain on the city’s resources.
Israel and Gaza: The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza and the city’s large Jewish and Muslim population make foreign policy a key issue in this election.
What is President Trump saying about the campaign?
Trump, a former New Yorker, has been looming over the mayoral race for months, threatening to arrest and deport Mamdani and take control of the city if he wins.
President Trump called on voters in the city to support Cuomo on the Truth social platform on Monday, saying they had “no choice” but to vote for the former governor.
When the federal government shut down in October, President Trump withheld about $18 billion in federal funds, but $187 million in New York security funding has since been restored. President Trump has threatened to withhold further federal aid to the city if Mamdani wins.
What other elections are being held?
governor of virginia
Virginia, which borders Washington, D.C., has been in the spotlight for being directly affected by President Trump’s spending cuts and the recent government shutdown.
Democrat Abigail Spanberger is facing off against Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earl Sears.
governor of new jersey
In New Jersey, concerns about affordability were a focus of the gubernatorial race. Democrats have an advantage among voters, but Republicans are optimistic that Trump’s growing popularity in the state could lead to a surprise victory. Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill is running against Republican Jack Ciatarelli, a former state representative.
California
In California, a ballot measure has been proposed that would redraw congressional districts in favor of Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers say they introduced the plan in response to President Trump’s call for Texas to redistrict to favor Republicans in five seats currently held by Democrats. If approved, the bill would effectively eliminate five Republican-controlled districts in California.
