Overview

• The Democratic primary on June 24 uses ranked-choice voting, allowing New Yorkers to rank up to five candidates until one secures a majority.
• An Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey released June 23 simulated eight RCV rounds and gave Mamdani 51.8% to Cuomo’s 48.2% in the final tally.
• Early voting drew about 385,000 ballots—more than double 2021’s early total—and 40% of those were cast by voters under age 40.
• Mamdani has built momentum with proposals such as rent freezes, free bus fares and endorsements from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders.
• Cuomo emphasizes his track record in government but continues to contend with sexual harassment allegations from his gubernatorial tenure.