Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa Race to the Finish in NYC Mayoral Contest/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ With Election Day approaching, New York City’s mayoral candidates are making last-minute appeals across all five boroughs. Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Independent Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa are each vying to replace outgoing Mayor Eric Adams. Early voting turnout has surpassed 735,000 ballots, signaling high interest.
NYC Mayoral Race 2025 – Quick Looks
- Final campaign push underway ahead of Tuesday’s election
- Candidates canvassed across all five NYC boroughs over the weekend
- Zohran Mamdani aims to become NYC’s first Muslim mayor
- Andrew Cuomo seeks political comeback as an independent
- Curtis Sliwa emphasizes public safety in grassroots campaign
- Mamdani energizes progressives with viral videos and ground organizing
- Cuomo appeals to centrist and GOP voters to block Mamdani
- Early voting closes with over 735,000 ballots cast
- 2025 turnout already surpasses 2021 early voting numbers
- Race to replace outgoing Mayor Eric Adams intensifies
Deep Look
NYC Mayoral Candidates Enter Final Stretch Ahead of Pivotal Election Day
NEW YORK — The candidates vying to become New York City’s next mayor launched a final flurry of campaign events on Monday, making last-minute appeals to voters across the five boroughs ahead of Tuesday’s highly anticipated Election Day.
Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, Independent Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa each spent the final weekend before the vote crisscrossing neighborhoods, shaking hands, and delivering sharply different messages to an energized electorate.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist and state lawmaker, stunned New York’s political establishment earlier this year by defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. With the possibility of becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor, Mamdani has sustained momentum through a mix of aggressive ground operations and viral social media campaigns that have resonated especially with younger and working-class voters.
On Monday, Mamdani was spotted dancing with seniors on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, part of a strategy to broaden his appeal beyond his progressive base. He has continued urging supporters to not take the race for granted and to turn out in force on Election Day.
“This isn’t the moment to get comfortable,” Mamdani told supporters in Queens. “This is the moment to show what kind of city we want to build — one where housing is affordable, public transit works, and everyone has a voice.”
Meanwhile, Cuomo, 67, is attempting a political comeback four years after resigning as governor amid multiple sexual harassment allegations, which he continues to deny. Now running as an independent, Cuomo has repositioned himself as a centrist alternative who can block what he describes as Mamdani’s “radical” agenda.
Over the weekend, Cuomo campaigned in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, a neighborhood with a significant Eastern European population. In recent days, he has also openly courted Republican voters, hoping to cobble together a cross-party coalition to boost his chances in the three-way contest.
“Zohran Mamdani doesn’t represent New York,” Cuomo said during a campaign stop. “I’ve governed in the real world. I know how to keep this city safe, functional, and inclusive — not ideological.”
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, best known as the founder of the Guardian Angels, is running a campaign focused heavily on public safety. A familiar voice on local radio and a fixture on New York’s streets, Sliwa has targeted crime and quality-of-life concerns, aiming to pull support from disillusioned voters across the political spectrum.
In the final days of the campaign, Sliwa canvassed the subways and visited a mosque in the Bronx, highlighting his outreach beyond traditional Republican strongholds. Dressed in his iconic red beret and jacket, Sliwa emphasized that both Mamdani and Cuomo represent political extremes.
“This race isn’t just about left versus right — it’s about who actually shows up for New Yorkers,” Sliwa said.
Early Voting Surges Ahead of Final Day
According to city election officials, more than 735,000 ballots were cast during the early voting period, which ended Sunday. The turnout indicates strong voter interest, especially compared to past elections.
For context, just 169,879 early in-person votes were cast during the 2021 mayoral general election. Even last year’s general election, which drew 1,089,328 early votes, was part of a broader, higher-stakes national cycle. The sharp rise in early ballots this year suggests that local issues — from housing affordability to crime and corruption — are top of mind for many New Yorkers.
The results on Tuesday will not only determine who leads the nation’s largest city but also serve as a bellwether for urban politics during President Trump’s second term. The race features candidates who reflect vastly different visions of governance in a post-pandemic, post-Trump America.
Eric Adams’ Exit Leaves Power Vacuum
Mayor Eric Adams, who lost the Democratic primary earlier this year and briefly pursued an independent run, ultimately withdrew from the race in September. His endorsement of Andrew Cuomo has added further intrigue, as Adams was previously seen as a moderate foil to Mamdani’s progressive rise.
The Trump administration, in a controversial move, dropped corruption charges against Adams earlier this year, citing national policy priorities. Trump later commented that he would prefer both Adams and Sliwa exit the race to prevent Mamdani from securing a victory.
While Adams’ influence remains unclear, his departure from the field has created space for both Mamdani and Cuomo to solidify their support among centrist and left-leaning voters.
A Defining Choice for the City’s Future
As New York heads to the polls, the city faces a stark choice between competing visions: Mamdani’s call for structural change and community investment, Cuomo’s appeal for stability and executive experience, and Sliwa’s promise of street-level accountability and safety.
Regardless of who prevails, the outcome will shape the next chapter of New York City’s recovery and its role in the national political narrative.
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