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State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani is nearing victory as the final day of New York City’s mayoral race approaches. The 33-year-old democratic socialist has disrupted traditional politics through targeted social media campaigns and vows to tackle the city’s economic issues.
Mamdani, who is serving his third term representing Assembly District 36 in New York, is leading in most polling surveys going into Election Day on November 4. He has consistently outperformed independent candidate Andrew M. Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa since early voting began on October 25.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll conducted from October 23 to 27 shows Mamdani with 43% support, compared to Cuomo’s 33% and Sliwa’s 14%, according to AFP. Despite facing racist and Islamophobic attacks from opponents, Mamdani remains focused on local issues.
The race has also involved harsh rhetoric from President Donald Trump, who called Mamdani a “communist” and threatened to cut federal funding if he won. Mamdani responds by saying he is fighting for working people who feel betrayed by Trump’s presidency.
Key campaign topics include the rising cost of living, public safety, and how each candidate would deal with Trump’s influence. Political analyst Lincoln Mitchell from Columbia University remarked, “Mamdani is an unusual candidate who captures the current political climate. Having a Muslim candidate for mayor of New York is significant.”
Early voting data shows that 275,006 registered Democrats and 46,115 Republicans have participated, along with 42,383 independents. Mamdani’s momentum underscores the ideological divide within the Democratic Party, especially between its progressive left and more centrist factions.
Governor Kathy Hochul, a moderate Democrat, attended a Mamdani rally on October 26 but was drowned out by chants of “tax the rich.” Hochul has criticized Mamdani’s proposal of a 2% income tax on residents earning over $1 million.
Mamdani’s rise has been powered by young volunteers, with his campaign claiming around 90,000 people have volunteered. He told The Daily Show, “It’s really about people talking to each other about the city we all love.” Teen volunteer Abid Mahdi from Queens likened Mamdani to Bernie Sanders, calling him “my Bernie Sanders in many ways.”
Mamdani shared a stage with Sanders at a rally on October 26. Mahdi added, “I’m 15 now, but I’ll be an adult and paying taxes in three years. Why should I start caring then?”
Recognizing the importance of older voters, Mamdani visited an elder care home in Brooklyn. The final days of campaigning saw candidates scrambling to reach voters amid heavy rain, with appearances on TV and other outreach efforts.
In the closing stretch, Sliwa appeared in a satirical conservative rap video, and Cuomo campaigned in Harlem alongside Mayor Eric Adams, who eventually endorsed his former opponent. A controversy erupted when a British newspaper published what appeared to be an interview with former Mayor Bill de Blasio criticizing Mamdani’s spending plans. De Blasio denied ever speaking to the journalist, leading to the article’s removal.
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