New York City to vote on November 4: Will Zohran Mamdani make history as NYC’s first Muslim mayor?

Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (C) speaks during a campaign event with New York City elected officials on November 1, 2025 in the Queens borough of New York City. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by STEPHANIE KEITH / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

With just hours left before New York City heads to the polls, the mayoral race has turned into a nail-biter between Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani and independent challenger Andrew Cuomo.

The latest data compiled by The New York Times from multiple pollsters shows Mamdani still in the lead, but his once-comfortable margin has narrowed sharply in the final stretch. Early voting ended Sunday evening, and polling stations open citywide at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4.

Around 735,000 people have cast early ballots in the New York mayoral election, nearly four times as the last election, according to the city’s Board of Elections. The rise in early voting suggests heightened interest among voters, particularly young voters.

What do the polls reveal? 

According to the most recent AtlasIntel poll conducted between October 25 and 30, Mamdani leads with 41% support, followed by Cuomo at 34% and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at 24%. The survey of around 1,500 voters gives Mamdani a lead of 6.6 percentage points, his narrowest since July, according to the New York Post.

Atlas Poll

2025 New York City Mayoral Election In the race for NYC mayor, Zohran Mamdani (D) leads Andrew Cuomo (I) by 6.6pp and Curtis Sliwa (R ) by 16.5pp. pic.twitter.com/wiCrRaYDpo — AtlasIntel (@atlas_intel) November 1, 2025

Earlier polls had shown a more comfortable gap. A Fox News–Beacon Research poll from October 24–28 placed Mamdani 16 points ahead (47% to 31%), while a Marist University poll from the same period had him at 48% to 32%.

However, a Suffolk University survey (October 23–26) showed a tightening race, Mamdani at 44%, Cuomo at 34%, and Sliwa at 11%, dropping from a 20-point lead in September to just 10 points now.

Other polls tell a similar story: Quinnipiac University shows Mamdani ahead by 10 points, Manhattan Institute by 15, and Victory Insights by 18.

Obama’s backing gives Mamdani campaign momentum

Despite pushback from billionaire donors, including Bill Ackman and Michael Bloomberg, who reportedly poured millions into anti-Mamdani ads, the Democratic socialist’s campaign has gained traction in recent weeks, especially after receiving personal support from former President Barack Obama.

Obama spoke with Mamdani for 30 minutes, praising his campaign as “impressive to watch” and offering to serve as a “sounding board” in the future, The New York Times reported.

Mamdani has also received endorsements from Vice President Kamala Harris, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Rep. Jerry Nadler, among others.

If elected, the 34-year-old Queens assemblyman would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor.

Key issues dominating the race

The election has revolved around affordability, public safety, and relations with Washington.

• Zohran Mamdani: Promises to make New York “cheaper and fairer,” tackling rent, childcare, and wages.
• Andrew Cuomo: Focuses on policing, stability, and restoring public trust.
• Curtis Sliwa: Highlights crime prevention and transport, but struggles to gain momentum.

Cuomo banks on experience and stability

Running as an independent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo is positioning himself as a seasoned crisis manager who can “handle whatever comes up.”

“People want affordable housing. People want to see the economy working,” Cuomo said. “And in New York City, you can have a major crisis at any time. We just marked the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. I don’t think they want a mayor who has no experience or ability to do the job.”

Cuomo’s campaign slogan, “Ready on Day One,” highlights his experience leading New York through past crises. But he faces an uphill battle after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani earlier this year.

Inside Mamdani’s rise, and what’s at stake

Mamdani, the son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani, first made headlines in June when he defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary. “Tonight we made history,” he declared, setting the stage to become the city’s first Muslim and socialist mayor.

Since then, Mamdani has built a movement around progressive reform, from free buses and childcare to raising the minimum wage to $30/hour and taxing the wealthy. His platform has energised young voters and drawn national attention, even from President Donald Trump, who has called him a “fake communist.”

Trump has also threatened to withhold federal funds if Mamdani wins. “Remember, he needs the money from me, as President, to fulfill all of his FAKE Communist promises. He won't be getting any of it,” Trump wrote on social media.

Trump took a swipe at Mamdani, saying he is “much better looking” than the Democrat. In an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, the host noted that some have called Mamdani a “left-wing version of Trump, charismatic, breaking the old rules. He responded, “Well, I think I’m a much better-looking person.”

What happened in the debates?

Two televised debates in October showcased fiery exchanges between Mamdani and Cuomo.

Mamdani criticised Cuomo’s handling of nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, while Cuomo accused Mamdani of refusing to denounce Hamas and questioned his credibility for living in a rent-stabilized apartment.

Sliwa, meanwhile, focused on crime and transportation but failed to make major gains.

When and where to vote

Early voting ran from October 25 to November 3. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, with polls open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Voters standing in line when polls close will still be allowed to cast their ballots. Polling locations can be confirmed through the New York City Board of Elections website.

Each borough has issued its own special “I Voted Early” sticker this year, a small reminder of what could be a historic night for New York politics.

When will the results be declared? 

The official results will be confirmed once all ballots are counted, including early mail-in, absentee, military, affidavit, and emergency votes, according to Axios.