The 2025 New York mayor election has become one of the most closely watched political contests in recent memory, pitting rising Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani against former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, with Republican Curtis Sliwa also in the race.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assembly member and the Democratic nominee, could make history as NYC’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor, building a progressive platform that includes rent freezes, public transit subsidies, and wealth redistribution aimed at helping working-class New Yorkers.
Polls are open across New York City where voters will elect a new mayor.
They'll be choosing between Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa https://t.co/bgCpApMTbo pic.twitter.com/KpuJ6rzfhZ— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) November 4, 2025
Cuomo, seeking a political comeback after resigning amid scandal in 2021, runs on a centrist platform emphasizing increased policing, affordable housing, and education reforms, while Sliwa leverages his Guardian Angels anti-crime background, standing as a conservative alternative, although he trails in the polls.
The race gained national attention with former President Donald Trump endorsing Cuomo, warning that Mamdani’s policies would threaten federal funding and describing him as a radical socialist, while Mamdani counters with plans to “Trump-proof” New York City through progressive taxation and social programs.
Voters faced a crucial choice on November 4 to replace outgoing Mayor Eric Adams amid record turnout and intense debate over the city’s future. With polls indicating Mamdani’s lead but with a divided electorate including Cuomo’s centrist appeal and Sliwa’s conservative base, the election outcome remains uncertain. This contest embodies a clash between progressive change and political establishment resilience in one of the world’s most influential cities.