Overview

• Zohran Mamdani, polling second in the NYC Democratic mayoral race, urged his supporters to donate to Adrienne Adams to help her qualify for public matching funds by the May 19 deadline.
• Adams, who has yet to unlock the city's 8-to-1 campaign finance matching program, is gaining momentum after recent endorsements and a rise to third place in polls.
• Mamdani's move reflects a ranked-choice voting strategy, where progressive candidates are coordinating to challenge Andrew Cuomo's dominant lead in the polls.
• Andrew Cuomo, despite leading with 37% in the latest poll, has faced campaign finance challenges, including denied matching funds and allegations of improper super PAC coordination.
• The Working Families Party-backed slate, including Mamdani and Adams, is leveraging alliances and resource-sharing to counter Cuomo's well-funded campaign and appeal to diverse voter bases.