Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has energized liberal voters and strongly condemned Israel’s war on Gaza.
Polls have opened for the start of in-person voting for the New York City mayoral race, one of the most closely watched elections of the year in the United States.
New Yorkers on Saturday began choosing between Democrat Zohran Mamdani, who has a wide lead in the polls, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who appears on the ballot as an independent. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams is also on the ballot, but dropped out of the race last month and recently threw his support behind Cuomo.
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Mamdani, a democratic socialist, energized liberal voters by promoting universal, free childcare, free buses and Rent freeze for New Yorkers About 1 million live in rent-regulated apartments.
Cuomo has attacked Mamdani, who would be the city’s first Muslim mayor, for his criticism of Israel.
Mamdani, who has faced anti-Muslim rhetoric during the tournament, says Israel’s military actions in Gaza amount to genocide, a view shared by a UN inquiry, genocide experts and numerous rights groups.
in one emotional speech On Friday, Mamdani said the attacks against him were “racist, baseless”.
“To be a Muslim in New York is to expect insults, but insults don’t single us out. There are many New Yorkers who have to deal with that. It’s the tolerance of those insults,” said Mamdani, who defeated Cuomo in June. Landslide victory In the Democratic mayoral primary.
Cuomo has portrayed Mamdani’s policies as naive and fiscally irresponsible. He has urged voters to elect him because of his experience as governor of the state after he resigned as governor in 2021 after several women alleged sexual harassment.
New York has allowed early voting since 2019, and it has become relatively popular. In the June mayoral primary, about 35 percent of ballots were cast early and in person, according to the city’s campaign finance board.
In neighboring New Jersey, the governor’s race is also being closely watched. It pits Republican state Assemblyman Jack Ciatarelli against Democratic US Representative Mickey Sherrill. New Jersey adopts early voting in 2021.
The off-year elections in the two states could be a bellwether for Democratic Party leaders as they try to determine what kind of candidates might best oppose Republican President Donald Trump’s agenda.
The races have highlighted issues of affordability and living standards, as well as ongoing divisions within the Democratic Party, said Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
“New York City pits the progressive wing against the old guard in Mamdani vs. Cuomo, while New Jersey is banking on moderate candidate Mickey Sherrill to appeal to its broad moderates,” she said.
New Jersey’s gubernatorial candidates, in their final debate earlier this month, discussed the federal government shutdown, Sherrill’s military record, Trump’s policies and the high cost of living in the state.
The winner will replace Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who is term-limited.