Mamdani Gains Momentum in NYC Mayoral Primary Amid Controversy
In a heated NYC mayoral primary, Zohran Mamdani gains traction against Andrew Cuomo, focusing on progressive policies and grassroots support amidst warnings from business leaders.
Can Zohran Mamdani stop the Cuomo machine?
The Spectator World
Expect a Photo Finish in New York’s Mayoral Race
New York Magazine
‘Say One Nice Thing About Eric Adams’
New York Magazine
Mamdani overcomes Cuomo in final polling before NYC mayoral primary
Washington Examiner
Bill Clinton gives last-minute endorsement to Cuomo in NYC mayor race
Washington Examiner
Mamdani Overtakes Cuomo in Pre–Election Day Poll
New York Magazine
Overview
- The NYC mayoral primary features a competitive race between Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani, with Mamdani gaining support from progressive voters.
- Mamdani's campaign emphasizes grassroots organizing and viral outreach, appealing to younger constituents concerned about living costs.
- Business leaders, including billionaire John Catsimatidis, warn against Mamdani's socialist policies, threatening to close grocery stores if he wins.
- Mamdani has garnered endorsements from prominent figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, bolstering his progressive platform.
- Polls indicate a potential advantage for Mamdani under the ranked-choice voting system, with results expected after polls close at 9 p.m. Tuesday.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources exhibit a mix of admiration and skepticism towards candidates, particularly Mamdani, highlighting his charisma and progressive policies while contrasting them with Cuomo's established presence. The framing often emphasizes the implications of ranked choice voting, reflecting a nuanced view of electoral dynamics and the potential for significant political shifts.
New York City is implementing ranked-choice voting for the Democratic mayoral primary election.
The candidate who is the first choice of a majority of voters wins the race outright.
Cuomo aggressively defends himself, portraying the situation as a political attack by his adversaries.
New York City Democrats will vote in a crowded mayoral primary on June 24, with two candidates leading the race for the nomination.
Critics have targeted Mamdani for his advocacy of Palestinian human rights and criticism of Israel, leading to pressure on him.
The vote occurs on a hot day four years after Cuomo's resignation due to a sexual harassment scandal.
New York City is still relatively new to ranked choice voting, with the upcoming mayoral primary being only the second time it has been implemented.
New Yorkers are voting in a crucial mayoral primary election on Tuesday with major implications for the city's future and the Democratic party.
Nine candidates are competing for a job that could impact the party's ability to challenge Trump, with most struggling to gain recognition.
Unofficial results of voters' first-choice preferences will be reported by the city Board of Elections on Tuesday evening and overnight.
New York City voters will determine Andrew Cuomo's political comeback through the Democratic mayoral primary.
Voters' first choices for mayor are expected on June 24, but no candidate is likely to receive over 50% of votes in the first round.
Ranked choice analysis is used if no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes.
The party's progressive wing has united in support of Mamdani, a 33-year-old self-described democratic socialist.
Cuomo and other Democrats have criticized Mamdani's qualifications.
Mamdani's progressive platform includes freezing rents, opening city-owned grocery stores, providing free bus service, taxing corporations and the wealthy, and increasing the minimum wage to $30.
Mamdani's campaign gained momentum by focusing on the city's high cost of living and receiving endorsements from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
The New York City Board of Elections is preparing for potential power outages on Election Day due to a severe heat wave with temperatures above 90 degrees.
Polls close at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday with preliminary data available shortly after.
Candidates are urging voters to exclude Cuomo from their ranked choice ballots to prevent his comeback.
Cuomo has consistently been viewed as the frontrunner for an extended period of time.
Cuomo resigned in 2021 due to a report finding that he sexually harassed 11 women.
Voters have the opportunity to rank multiple candidates in order of preference.
Vote tabulation is conducted using computer software in multiple rounds.
The computerized process of tabulating votes is quick, but it has a delayed start.
Ranked choice tabulations will not begin until July 1 due to the need to wait for the arrival of mail-in ballots.
Andrew Cuomo is the frontrunner in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary and is expected to become the next mayor.
If elected, Mamdani would be the city's first Muslim and Indian-American mayor, making history as the first Muslim mayor in the city.
Articles (66)
"…Cuomo’s super-PAC, Fix the City, raked in nearly three times what the assembly member could spend—with big checks from corporations and billionaires."
Mother Jones·2h·"…A victory by Zohran in the Democratic primary would be a seismic shift in politics and the election and how campaigns are run and won."
The Intercept·10h·"…The shadow of President Donald Trump, who broke the Republican establishment and then the nation’s politics over the last decade, is darkening New York City’s mayoral race as polls show New Yorkers overwhelmingly see the city going in the wrong direction."
MSNBC·10h·"…It’s exciting to know that while each of us think we will make the next best mayor of New York City, we also understand that it’s time for a politics of the future."
Rolling Stone·13h·"…The real race to be the next mayor of the City of New York, in other words, may have only just begun."
New York Magazine·11h·"…The candidates overwhelmingly say that affordability is the biggest issue in the city; by some estimates, median rent is double the national average."
New York Magazine·23h·"…Mamdani touted the results, seeing them as a sign of his campaign’s momentum heading into Election Day."
New York Magazine·1d·"…The primary winner will go on to face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who decided to run as an independent amid a public uproar over his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent abandonment of the case by Trump’s Justice Department."
PBS NewsHour·5h·"…The race has shaped up as a contest between a well-known establishment figure seeking a political comeback and a rising young democratic socialist, who has mounted an unexpected challenge."
PBS NewsHour·22h·"…The system is tough to grasp."
PBS NewsHour·1d·"…Voters across New York state on Tuesday will pick nominees in municipal primaries that include high-profile comeback bids in New York City by a former governor and a former congressman who both left office mired in scandal."
PBS NewsHour·1d·"…Cuomo appears to be relying more on name recognition, his lengthy record of government experience, and those ads."
The Guardian·10h·"…Mamdani has run on a progressive platform, promising to freeze rent and make buses free citywide, and his campaign has been propelled by a social media following that dwarfs his rivals."
The Guardian·11h·"…Mamdani's against-the-odds success underlines why the far-right surge doesn’t have to weaken the left – far from it."
The Guardian·1d·"…Mamdani has surged in recent weeks, setting up a contest between a centrist and a progressive that may, or may not, indicate the direction of travel for Democrats nationally."
The Guardian·1d·"…New Yorkers are braving the heat to cast their ballots in Tuesday’s Democratic mayoral primary election, which is set to be a nail-biter between Democratic Socialist state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo."
TIME Magazine·2h·"…Mamdani has stood out during the election for the sheer volume of individual donations he has received throughout his campaign."
TIME Magazine·23h·"…The race, which is being led by Andrew Cuomo, a former governor and son of a former mayor promising establishment experience, and Zohran Mamdani, a young Democratic socialist state assembly member who has promised to tackle cost-of-living issues, has underscored ongoing debate about the future of the Democratic Party in New York and beyond."
Al Jazeera·1d·"…Mamdani’s rise has also caused growing consternation from the Democratic establishment."
CNN·1d·"…The final public poll suggests the potential for an upset in Tuesday’s New York Democratic mayoral primary — an outcome that would be dramatic but that also might end up resolving nothing."
NBC News·10h·"…Election Day is likely to be short on answers for voters who want to know who could lead their city next year or what the high-profile race means for the battle over the future of the Democratic Party."
NBC News·11h·"…The grid style of ballot is more complex than a non-ranked one, adding new ways for voters to mismark or mistakenly fill out their ballots."
NBC News·1d·"…The primary winner typically emerges as the heavy favorite in the fall general election."
Deadline·21h·"…Mamdani has emerged as a potential breakout star in the field of candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in the New York City mayoral race."
USA TODAY·11h·"…Cuomo's lead has gradually diminished, with Mamdani edging him out in the final round of the instant runoff that will use the city's ranked-choice voting system to determine a winner."
USA TODAY·11h·"…The race could provide a bellwether for the larger Democratic party as the coalition seeking to repel Cuomo has framed the choice facing New Yorkers as one between an older, moderate political establishment and a youthful, progressive vision for the party that lost the White House in November."
USA TODAY·16h·"…The stakes for Tuesday are massive, as in the Democratic stronghold of New York, the person who wins the Democratic primary has a massive possibility to win the general election in November."
USA TODAY·21h·"…In the heavily Democratic city, the candidate who wins the primary gains a considerable advantage in the November general election."
USA TODAY·1d·"…The market shift came after one of the last independent polls of voters showed Mamdani winning in the city’s ranked choice voting models."
USA TODAY·1d·"…If New Yorkers are frustrated with Mayor Eric Adams, they should be careful not to trade him for someone who might preside over a city that is less competitive and less financially secure."
Chicago Tribune·1d·"…In the final days of campaigning for Tuesday's New York City ranked choice Democratic mayoral primary, Cuomo and others fanned out across the city to make their closing arguments, with one shared focus being how they're framing themselves as the best choice to stand up to the White House."
ABC News·4h·"…The primary winner will go on to face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who decided to run as an independent amid a public uproar over his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent abandonment of the case by Trump's Justice Department."
ABC News·16h·"…The primary winner will go on to face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who decided to run as an independent amid a public uproar over his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent abandonment of the case by Trump's Justice Department."
ABC News·16h·"…Their chances of becoming the next mayor of New York City may have dimmed."
ABC News·1d·"…The system is tough to grasp."
ABC News·2d·"…The primary winner will go on to face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who decided to run as an independent amid a public uproar over his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent abandonment of the case by Trump’s Justice Department."
Associated Press·16h·"…Their chances of becoming the next mayor of New York City may have dimmed."
Associated Press·1d·"…The system is based on a simple premise: Democracy works better if people aren’t forced to make an all-or-nothing choice with their vote."
Associated Press·2d·"…The race is being watched, not just by New Yorkers, but by Democrats across the country, as it is largely seen as a proxy war for the very real internal battle that has plagued the party ever since Trump won the presidency, expanding his appeal in parts of New York City in the process."
BBC News·6h·"…Voters have responded to Mamdani because “he’s energetic and dynamic and people like the idea of free stuff.”"
The Dispatch·2d·"…Mamdani campaigned on the promise to "lower costs and make life easier" for New Yorkers, which includes building more affordable housing, ensuring buses are free and doing away with childcare costs for every New Yorker aged 6 weeks to 5 years."
Fox Business·2h·"…After running an electrifying and very photogenic campaign, Zohran Mamdani may just defeat Andrew Cuomo."
New York Post·2h·"…Mamdani finally surpasses Cuomo in the eighth round of the simulated ranked choice voting — 51.8% to 48.2% — in the latest poll conducted June 18-20."
New York Post·1d·"…The primary winner will go on to face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who decided to run as an independent amid a public uproar over his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent abandonment of the case by Trump’s Justice Department."
Boston Herald·3h·"…Their chances of becoming the next mayor of New York City may have dimmed."
Boston Herald·1d·"…The Chicago Tribune warned New Yorkers that electing a democratic socialist candidate could lead to a city that is less competitive and less financially secure."
FOX News·3h·"…Trump has been the boogeyman on the mayoral campaign trail."
FOX News·10h·"…Mamdani touted his proposal committing an "800%" increase in funding for the Department of Community Safety's anti-hate crime programming."
FOX News·15h·"…New York City is prepping for primary elections on Tuesday as one of several major U.S. cities on high alert following U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities."
FOX News·1d·"…The reactions on social media were swift and alarmed."
Washington Examiner·22h·"…Mamdani leads Cuomo by four points, 52% to 48%, in the eighth and final round of a ranked choice simulation, according to a new Emerson College survey."
Washington Examiner·1d·"…Clinton joined Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg in endorsing Cuomo, an establishment figure."
Washington Examiner·1d·"…Mr. Mamdani is promising free buses, a rent freeze on stabilized apartments, and “a network of city-owned grocery stores.”"
New York Sun·1d·"…Pro-crime Democrats are propelling New York toward anarchy and financial ruin."
New York Sun·2d·"…The article outlines a series of unconventional and controversial policy proposals from various candidates in New York City's mayoral race, highlighting their extreme nature."
The Daily Wire·15h·"…The outcome of the race could offer clues to the future of the Democratic party, which has been listless, lackluster and a hotbed of intraparty squabbling since Kamala Harris’s blowout loss seven months ago."
The Spectator World·3h·"…Mamdani has gained 10 points since last month's Emerson poll, where he polled at 22%."
Newsmax·1d·"…Mamdani’s support has surged from 1% to 32%, while Cuomo finishes near where he began."
The Post Millennial·1d·"…In other words, leftists are trying to project a phenomenon that could only happen in New York City into national politics."
Daily Caller·7h·"…Mamdani’s overtime budget slash proposal came amid a push for a new Department of Community Safety, according to a Google Doc obtained from Mamdani’s website."
Daily Caller·1d·"…Mamdani’s once-longshot mayoral bid has significantly picked up steam over the past few weeks, surveys show."
Daily Caller·1d·"…It’s primary day on Tuesday in New York City as voters there cast their ballots in party primary elections for city offices, with the Democratic Primary for the mayoral election being the most highly-watched and closely contested, between former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani."
Epoch Times·11h·"…The June 24 Democratic mayoral primary in New York City marks the first major test for Democrats since Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss to President Donald Trump last fall—and the GOP’s sweep of the U.S. House and Senate."
Epoch Times·1d·"…Cuomo ranked No. 1, No. 2 is Adrienne Adams, and No. 3 is Zellnor Myrie."
Epoch Times·1d·"…This should be a genuinely frightening prospect for anyone concerned about New York City."
Western Journal·5h·"…The Democrat Party has never been less popular as voters reject their globalist agenda."
RedState·1d·FAQ
Zohran Mamdani's campaign focuses on progressive policies such as lowering the cost of living, increasing investments in public transit including fare-free bus pilots, creating world-class public transit, taxing the wealthiest 1% of New Yorkers with a flat 2% tax on incomes above $1 million, and raising the corporate tax rate to match New Jersey's 11.5%, which would bring in $5 billion. He also promises to protect immigrants, LGBTQ+ rights, and reproductive healthcare access in New York City.
Mamdani has built his campaign largely through grassroots organizing, relying on more than 50,000 volunteers who have knocked on over 1.5 million doors and made over 500,000 phone calls. His campaign resonates with working- and middle-class New Yorkers by engaging directly with voters and addressing their struggles, rather than relying on traditional political operatives or unions, many of whom have not backed him.
Business leaders, including billionaire John Catsimatidis, have warned against Mamdani's socialist policies, threatening to close grocery stores if he wins the mayoral race. This opposition stems from concerns about Mamdani's proposals to increase taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals.
Zohran Mamdani has received endorsements from prominent progressive figures such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, which have bolstered his progressive platform and helped increase his visibility and credibility among left-leaning voters.
Polls indicate that Zohran Mamdani could have an advantage under the ranked-choice voting system in the NYC mayoral primary. This voting method allows voters to rank candidates by preference, which could benefit Mamdani by accumulating votes from supporters of other candidates, potentially leading to a come-from-behind victory against Andrew Cuomo. Official results are expected after polls close at 9 p.m. on primary day.
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