Overview
- Aggressive late polling still places Mamdani ahead by double digits overall, though an Atlas Intel survey shows a tighter three‑way race and a Cuomo lead in a hypothetical head‑to‑head.
- Barack Obama privately phoned Mamdani to praise his campaign and offered to advise him if he wins, an uncommon show of backing short of a formal endorsement.
- President Trump labeled Mamdani a “communist,” threatened to cut billions in federal funds to New York if he is elected, and said he prefers Cuomo in a CBS interview while asserting authority to deploy the National Guard.
- The city logged more than 735,000 early votes, a record for a non‑presidential local election, with a late‑week rise among voters under 35.
- Mamdani’s platform centers on rent freezes, free buses and childcare, and higher taxes on the wealthy, drawing strong progressive support as moderates and business figures question his experience and some, including Michael Bloomberg, rally financial support to Cuomo.