• The Nov. 4 mayoral election is between Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, former Democratic governor and now independent contender Andrew Cuomo, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa

ISTANBUL

With only five days until the election, New York City’s mayoral race has entered its final and most intense stage as debates between candidates focus on relations with President Donald Trump, the war in Gaza, law enforcement, safety and housing.

The weeks running up to the Nov. 4 ballot have shaped up as a three-way race between Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, former governor and now independent contender Andrew Cuomo, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.

Early voting has already seen strong turnout, with over 300,000 ballots cast in the first four days, according to local reports.

A Quinnipiac University poll, conducted between Oct. 23 and Oct. 27, finds Mamdani leading with 43% support among likely voters, followed by the former governor with 33% and Sliwa with 14%.

Zohran Mamdani: Democratic front-runner

Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the Democratic candidate, has served as a member of the New York State Assembly representing Queens’ 36th District since 2020. The 34-year-old secured the Democratic nomination after defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the party primary in June. If elected, he would become the first Muslim mayor in the city’s history.

Background and early life

Born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1991 to Indian-origin parents, Mamdani moved to New York at age seven. His mother, Mira Nair, is an Oscar-nominated Indian-American filmmaker, while his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a professor at Columbia University.

He graduated from Bronx High School of Science and earned a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College in Maine. He is married to Rama Duwaji, a Syrian artist based in Brooklyn.

Political views and campaign

Mamdani calls himself a democratic socialist, with his politics seen as progressive.
His campaign focuses on lowering the cost of living for working-class New Yorkers, proposing policies such as rent freezes, free buses, and affordable housing and childcare.

Often a critic of the Trump administration, Mamdani has vowed to “be there to fight him” if he “comes after” New York, referring to recent decisions by the US president to deploy troops in Democratic-run cities, claiming to fight crime.

Pro-Palestine stance

Mamdani is known for his outspoken support for Palestine and criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza. After the cease-fire deal, he said:
“We must work towards a future built upon justice, one without occupation and apartheid, and for a world where every person can live with safety and dignity.”

In 2020, he wrote on US social media company X that he co-founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine at his alma mater, and in 2023, he joined a hunger strike outside the White House calling for a ceasefire.

Mamdani has faced criticism for defending the phrase “globalize the intifada” during a podcast interview and for supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which calls for economic pressure on Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. Several groups have accused him of antisemitism, a charge he denies.

Last year, he said he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza – if he set foot in New York.

Andrew Cuomo: Independent contender

Former New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani in June. He served as the 56th governor of New York State for over a decade before resigning in 2021 following multiple sexual harassment allegations from several women, including state employees.

Background

The 67-year-old son of the late Governor Mario Cuomo was raised in Queens and educated at Fordham University and Albany Law School. He began his career as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan and later served as the US secretary of housing and urban development under former President Bill Clinton.

Political campaign and views

Cuomo’s campaign centers on his “Safe New York City” agenda, with a focus on public safety and crime reduction. He plans to expand the NYPD by adding 5,000 new officers and prioritizing subway safety.

Pro-Israel stance and Islamophobia allegations

Cuomo is a staunch supporter of Israel and is seen as the top choice for pro-Israel voters in the city. In November 2024, he joined a legal team defending Netanyahu against the ICC arrest warrant.

His campaign, however, has faced accusations of Islamophobia and racism. During a recent radio interview, Cuomo laughed at a host’s suggestion that Mamdani would celebrate if there were “another 9/11” attack on New York.

Mamdani’s campaign also accused Cuomo’s political action committee (PAC) of “blatant Islamophobia” after it altered his photo to give him a darker, bushier beard.

In another incident, Cuomo’s account briefly posted an AI-generated video mocking Mamdani’s South Asian heritage. The video was later deleted, with aides calling it an error.

Curtis Sliwa: Republican candidate

Trailing far behind Mamdani and Cuomo in the polls, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa insists he will stay in the race. This is his second mayoral bid after running as the Republican nominee in 2021.

Background and early life

Sliwa, 71, is a well-known media personality and radio talk show host. He is also the founder and CEO of the Guardian Angels, a nonprofit crime-prevention group based in New York City.

In 1979, at just 24 years old, Sliwa established the Guardian Angels in response to rising crime and public safety fears in New York, according to his website. He currently lives in Manhattan with his wife, attorney Nancy Sliwa.

Political views and campaign

Sliwa has emphasized public safety and community crime prevention through his work with the Guardian Angels. His campaign also focuses on crime, affordability, homelessness, and mental health care as well as increasing more police officers.

Pro-Israel and Islamophobia allegations

Sliwa has long expressed pro-Israel views and participates in the annual Israel Day Parade. In the final mayoral debate, he attacked Mamdani over his pro-Palestine stance, accusing him of supporting “global jihad.”

He also claimed that Mamdani has “no love in his heart for the State of Israel and for Israelis.”