A three-way bout between a political staple, an NYC chestnut, and a socialist underdog, the 2025 NYC mayoral election is sure to continue heating up as election day rapidly approaches. The race has been closely watched ever since the Democratic primary in June. The meteoric rise of political newcomer Zohran Mamdani has especially caught most people’s attention. A self-described democratic socialist, Mamdani has faced strong backlash from both his political opponents and the media as he shot to the top of the polls, despite projections from most news media sites. His two mayoral opponents are former Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.

Zohran Mandani’s political experience is limited, having only served as a New York State Assemblyman since 2021. His campaign has emphasized issues related to New York City’s affordability crisis and has promised many programs aimed at supporting the working class of the city. Some of these programs include making New York City buses free at the point of service, establishing city-owned grocery stores, implementing a free childcare program, and building affordable housing complexes. He intends to accomplish these goals by raising taxes on the top 1% of wealthy New Yorkers, a plan which would require the approval of New York Governor Kathy Hochul. She has endorsed Mamdani for the mayorship, despite previous claims that she does not support or intend to allow these tax increases.

Andrew Cuomo previously served as New York Governor from 2011 until 2021, upon his resignation. His political experience is the longest of all the candidates, though: prior to the governorship he was New York’s Attorney General from 2007 until 2011, and prior to that Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1997 until 2001. His resignation came after several accusations of sexual misconduct, as well as controversy over his decision to require New York nursing homes to admit COVID-19 positive residents. This decision likely led to an increase in COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. Contributing to the scandal was the fact that, according to state Attorney General Letitia James, he drastically understated the extent of the increase in those deaths to the public. Cuomo has faced much criticism for running for NYC mayor, with many New Yorkers questioning his ability to run after the events leading to his controversial resignation. In his campaign, he emphasizes issues related to public safety, pledging to increase the number of NYPD officers and MTA authorities on the New York City subway. After failing to secure the Democratic party nomination during the 2025 primary, Cuomo has been running as a third party candidate under the Fight and Deliver party, a party he himself created in May of this year.

The Republican nominee, Curtis Sliwa, has held no previous political office. He is best known for founding the civilian public safety group, the Guardian Angels in 1979, a group that many believe practices vigilantism. Despite the criticism against the Guardians, Sliwa has crafted his public persona around that position, often citing experiences of upholding peace and security over the course of his over 40-year career as a Guardian Angel. Under his leadership, the group conducted patrols of the city in order to ensure public safety along with other anti-criminal activities. His campaign is based around public safety and affordability in NYC with plans to restore local zoning control and rebuild the NYPD.

As of October 26, 2025, Mamdani held the lead in the polls. According to a Suffolk University poll, he was leading by double digits, with 44% of New Yorkers expressing support for him, 34% for former Governor Cuomo, and 11% signaling support for Curtis Sliwa. Of those polled, 2% showed support for current Mayor Eric Adams, who suspended his campaign in September, citing the NYC government’s withholding of public funds for his campaign, a decision made due to Adams’ current ongoing investigation into corruption charges as mayor.

For more information on how to vote, visit the 2025 NYC General Election Voter Guide.