Definitely Not Your Usual Mayoral Contest
By: Renata Pernegrova, Mason Votes Contributor
On November 4th, New Yorkers will head to the polls to elect their new mayor. Unlike past races, this contest for governing control of the Big Apple has captured national attention. And the results are expected to have an impact nationally.
Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams dropping out at the end of September left the race with three candidates who have very little in common. With national midterm elections just a year away, the mayoral contest between Republican Curtis Sliwa, independent Andrew Cuomo and Democrat Zohran Mamdani is deemed important for the country as well as for the city itself.
Republican Sliwa, who, as of Oct. 29 ranked distant third in the polls, is running on restoring safety in the city—an important issue for voters and one that the current mayor promised to resolve when he won the election four years ago. The Adams administration has demonstrated mixed results on this issue. At the same time, Sliwa has distanced himself from President Donald Trump and claimed he would oppose a White House move linked to sending the National Guard to patrol the city. The Republican also has rejected the latest calls for him to step down from the race and endorse Cuomo. That strategy is meant to undermine Mamdani’s winning chances.
Cuomo, an independent candidate who lost the Democratic primary earlier in the year, has had a long career in politics. However, his record was damaged in his last role as New York governor when allegations of sexual harassment in his governor’s office were made public. This, and his response to the pandemic, contributed to him stepping down from his governorship. A recent poll ranked him at 33%, ten points behind Mamdani. Alleged financial ties to Trump and criticism of the Democratic frontrunner have helped to position Cuomo in between the two candidates.
Mamdani emerged last fall as a young, self-described Socialist-Democrat, running on policies such as free buses, rent freezes and small business reforms. His campaign, mainly focused on social media and retail outreach, has captured the nation’s attention and earned him endorsements from high-profile figures within the Democratic Party, although not from all the top national Democrats. Mamdani’s profile—a naturalized citizen of Ugandan heritage and of a Muslim background—has divided the public. However, he has consistently led in the polls, with young voters as well as voters concerned about affordable housing making up his main base, according to recent reporting about his campaign.
New York City is an important commercial and media center. Its demographics include different cultures, religions, ethnicities and political beliefs. Whoever wins the contest and becomes the mayor of the Big Apple for the next four years, experts anticipate an impact that will go far beyond the streets of the city.
Renata Pernegrova is a sophomore at George Mason University studying government and global affairs. This article was submitted as part of a COMM 374: Political Journalism class project.
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Slider Photo by: Jason Hartsel