With the New York City primary elections set for June 24, 2025, the competition to unseat incumbent Mayor Eric Adams is heating up.
Early voting has shown a significant turnout across all five boroughs, with unofficial data from the NYC Board of Elections revealing that 66,361 voters participated by the end of the second day of early voting.
Manhattan recorded 21,565 participants, Brooklyn logged 23,637, Queens had 13,823, the Bronx showed 5,170, and Staten Island rounded out the totals with 2,166.
These numbers highlight the importance of early voting in the democratic process within the city.
As excitement builds, here’s a recap of the latest developments in the race.
Key Dates for the NYC Primaries
Early voting will conclude on Sunday, June 22, with the primary election set for Tuesday, June 24.
On Election Night, voters can expect to see results reflecting first-choice votes coming from early voting, in-person voting, and processed absentee ballots.
Final results will be certified once all ballots have been adequately processed.
For voters wishing to check their registration status, resources are available online.
Voter registration for the 2025 NYC primary elections, both online and in person, is now closed.
Polling Overview
In recent polling, the dynamic of the race has shifted notably.
An Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey conducted from May 23–26 indicates that former Governor Andrew Cuomo holds 35%, with Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani trailing at 22%.
Brad Lander stands at 10%, according to this particular survey.
Further insights were provided by a Marist College poll conducted earlier in May, which shows Cuomo at 44%, Mamdani at 22%, and Mayor Adams at 11% amongst 3,383 likely Democratic primary voters surveyed from May 1–8.
An April poll by Siena College placed Cuomo at 34% and Mamdani at 16%, focusing on 811 registered voters, specifically highlighting 556 Democratic voters.
Current Election Landscape
As early voting commenced, major candidates were active on the campaign trail.
Cuomo kicked off his campaign day at Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network in Harlem, where he faced scrutiny from Sharpton for leaving out City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams in a cross-endorsement with rivals Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander.
Mamdani chose high-turnout areas such as the Upper West Side and Co-op City in the Bronx to rally support and was slated to gather with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for a campaign event.
Cuomo’s campaign is heavily backed by the super PAC Fix the City, which has raised $20 million, leading to an influx of campaign advertisements and flyers.
In the days leading up to the primary, the race has revealed deep divisions among candidates and voters surrounding key issues like Israel and the situation in Gaza.
On a surprising note, the city’s teachers union declared that they would not endorse any candidates in the Democratic primary, signaling a potential shift in support dynamics.
Mamdani, though acknowledging Cuomo’s extensive experience, argues it might not be the best asset for the current needs of New Yorkers.
Cuomo, aiming to leverage his experience, critiqued Mamdani’s qualifications by challenging his management history.
Conversing about qualifications and experience, he remarked,
“So just imagine the job interview for mayor of the city of New York. ‘Hello, I’m applying for the job of the mayor of city of New York. OK. Do you have management experience? No. Have you managed 100 people before? No. Have you managed 50 people before? No. You have experience dealing with Washington because we have this fellow named Trump who’s a problem. No.’”
Mamdani countered Cuomo’s assertions by emphasizing the need for a new kind of experience that resonates with modern voters, contrasting his vision against what he describes as a political past funded by billionaires.
The election spotlight has shown a remarkable twist, as recently, a poll indicated a shift in the lead among the Democratic contenders.
For the first time since Cuomo entered the race on March 1, recent polling suggests Mamdani may have outpaced him, leading 35% to 31% among likely Democratic primary voters, a result that falls within the margin of error of 4.1%.
The remaining figures from this poll show that 11% of respondents were uncertain, while Brad Lander received 9%, Scott Stringer 5%, Adrienne Adams 4%, Zellnor Myrie 3%, Michael Blake 2%, and Jessica Ramos received no support.
This particular poll also notably did not include a ranked-choice voting simulation, a critical detail for enthusiasts of election processes.
Mamdani’s ascent to becoming a prominent contender has been noteworthy, especially with the support of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who characterized the election as decisive for the future of the Democratic Party, framing it as a choice between the established political class and a younger generation.
As Mamdani gains traction, his competitors have intensified their critiques.
City Comptroller Lander provocatively mentioned his lack of social media presence during a debate, while Stringer issued a more pointed warning against electing an inexperienced candidate, questioning the appropriateness of having a “mayoralty on training wheels.”
Mayor Eric Adams, who is 64, announced that he would run as an independent, opting out of the Democratic primary.
Additional independent candidates include Jim Walden, a seasoned NYC lawyer, aged 59.
Among the range of candidates, major figures include former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, emphasizing his experience in addressing what he calls a city in crisis.
Zohran Mamdani, a self-identified socialist at 33, focuses his campaign on progressive policies advocating for rent freezes, free public transportation, and universal childcare.
Scott Stringer, 64, the former NYC comptroller, emphasizes the need for transparency and good governance.
Zellnor Myrie, a 38-year-old Brooklyn native, prioritizes affordable housing and electoral reform in his platform.
Whitney Tilson, 58, an investor and lifelong Democrat, remains vocal about creating a safe and prosperous city, criticizing career politicians for neglecting central issues.
Brad Lander, 55, currently serves as NYC comptroller, positioning himself as a progressive candidate advocating for police reform and effective migrant crisis management.
Adrienne Adams, 64, entered the race after Cuomo, positioning herself among key contenders seeking the mayoralty.
Michael Blake, 42, formerly of the Bronx assembly, emphasizes economic equity and social justice, striving for community empowerment.
The upcoming days will be crucial as candidates roll out their final agendas to capture undecided voters in a pivotal election period for New York City.
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