New York City Mayor Election 11/3

By Fiona McHugh

Tomorrow is Election Day, and New York City is gearing up to elect a new mayor to replace outgoing incumbent Eric Adams. Three candidates dominate the ballot: Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, and independent candidate Andrew Cuomo. 

Early voting is at an all-time high in the last few days, but tomorrow is the day that truly matters. Here’s everything to know about the three candidates: 

Andrew Cuomo

Former New York Governor Cuomo, who resigned in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, lost the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani in June and decided to run as an independent. Cuomo focuses on affordability, crime, and public education, and emphasized his personal view that the city is out of control. Cuomo has outlined plans to hire more NYPD officers, expand access to childcare, healthcare, and transportation, and provide housing. Cuomo has stated that he would build approximately 80,000 new affordable housing units, relinquishing control to the housing market after building. The former governor pointed out that the city has a 1% vacancy rate; therefore, he believes that building more housing is the answer to fixing the city’s housing affordability issues. Critics point out Cuomo’s handling of COVID-19 nursing home deaths and the allegations that led him to resign as major drawbacks to his candidacy. 

Zohran Mamdani

Mamdani is a 34-year-old state assemblyman who emerged as a surprise candidate in June and has since emphasized his take on affordability in the city. Mamdani has outlined plans to implement a rent freeze for rent-stabilized apartments, free buses, and create city-owned grocery stores. Mamdani has also spoken about employing a Department of Community Safety that would employ mental health, social, and outreach workers to deal with public crises that don’t necessitate a police response. For example, Mamdani has spoken on employing mental health outreach workers at subway stations to deal with the city’s homeless problem. Mamdani’s policies have been criticized for being populist, questions have arisen about his limited political experience, and his pro-Palestine beliefs are a drawback for New York City’s large Jewish population. 

Curtis Sliwa

Sliwa is the Republican candidate, the 71-year-old founder of the Guardian Angels, a citizen patrol group. Sliwa ran for mayor in 2021 against now-incumbent Eric Adams. Sliwa is a steadfast supporter of boosting the city’s safety and has repeatedly talked about the city’s crime crisis. The host of the WABC Radio station has criticized outgoing mayor Eric Adams’ handling of the city’s migrant crisis, opposing the opening of new shelters in the city. As a member of the “Protect Animals Party,” Sliwa has additionally spoken about a citywide ban on kill shelters. Sliwa has emphasized his experience in government and his New York roots, when he was an active part of the Guardian Angels in the 1970s. He’sbeen constantly urged to drop his bid by opponents who argue that he is directing voters away from Cuomo, and criticized for his past as a talk show host, which contributes to a perceived unseriousness about his personality and how he would act as mayor.