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New York City Votes in High-Profile Mayoral Race as Mamdani Leads and Trump Backs Cuomo

Record early turnout paired with a presidential intervention makes the race a test of the Democrats’ direction.

Overview

  • Polling averages show Zohran Mamdani entering Election Day with a double‑digit lead over Andrew Cuomo, though an AtlasIntel survey found a tighter 41%–34%–24% race with Curtis Sliwa third.
  • The New York City Board of Elections reported more than 735,000 early ballots cast, the highest ever for a mayoral contest and driven in part by younger voters.
  • President Donald Trump labeled Mamdani a communist, urged New Yorkers to vote for Cuomo, and said it would be hard to direct federal money to the city if Mamdani wins; Elon Musk also urged support for Cuomo.
  • Barack Obama called Mamdani over the weekend to offer himself as a sounding board, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Mamdani but sidestepped whether he represents the party’s future.
  • If elected, Mamdani would be New York City’s first Muslim mayor and the first born in Africa and of South Asian descent, after a campaign centered on affordability and public safety.