More than 735,000 early voters cast their ballots ahead of Tuesday’s mayoral election in New York City — reportedly the largest early in-person turnout ever for a nonpresidential race in New York. On Sunday alone, about 151,000 cast ballots, the most of any day since voting opened.
Sunday also saw the highest number of voters younger than 35 since polls opened, according to The New York Times.
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The significant turnout over the weekend comes as polls show Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani maintaining a significant lead over his rivals, which include former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
According to Real Clear Polling’s average, Mamdani leads Cuomo, his closest opponent, by 14.7 percentage points. Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic socialist, has remained in the lead even as Cuomo continues to attack him over his youth and inexperience as both aim to lead America’s largest city.
Final push by candidates ahead of Tuesday
Cuomo’s final ad of the race begins with a stern statement: “Life in New York is tough right now.”
He then laments Mamdani’s inexperience, saying, “Candidates who need on-the-job training can’t fix it.” He adds, “I see a new day just over the horizon.”
As polling suggests, however, Mamdani still appears to be capitalizing on excitement among progressives for his candidacy. As early voting concluded Sunday, Mamdani shook hands with social media personalities and taxi drivers as he called on his supporters to maintain the momentum as Election Day approached.
“People say, ‘We got this. It’s over. Cuomo is cooked,’” Mamdani said in a social media video. “Do not believe it.”
Meanwhile, Sliwa, who founded the Guardian Angels, which provided volunteer security amid a surge in subway violence in the late 1970s, argues that he is the best option for public safety, warning of severe economic consequences should Mamdani or Cuomo win. Sliwa has met with Jewish and Muslim leaders and has appeared on influencer Logan Paul’s YouTube show, as well as on Paul and sports journalist Stephen A. Smith’s podcast, in addition to traditional news stations.
Cuomo’s also making a push for Republican votes, arguing a vote for Sliwa is essentially a throwaway.
“Republicans, there are two choices, me or Mamdani,” Cuomo told Fox Business. “Don’t waste your vote.”
Trump weighs in on race
President Donald Trump weighed in on the race during a “60 Minutes” interview that aired on Sunday, begrudgingly saying he preferred Cuomo. But Trump, a former New Yorker, called Cuomo “a bad Democrat” and falsely described Mamdani as “a communist.”
“I’m not a fan of Cuomo, one way or the other, but if it’s gonna be between a bad Democrat and a communist, I’m gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you,” Trump said.
Mamdani has since used Trump’s support of Cuomo, however tepid, to attack the former governor’s Democratic bona fides, especially as new poll numbers reveal the president’s approval rating is falling.
“Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo,” Mamdani wrote on social media, above a message that read: “Trump endorses Cuomo.”
Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo. I know how hard you worked for this. https://t.co/qePAGqDk0K pic.twitter.com/6CKqyZE6ne
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 3, 2025
Late-night TV mocks NYC mayoral race
The high-profile race has also captured the attention of late-night television.
“Saturday Night Live” opened its final show before the election with a parody of a debate featuring Miles Teller as Cuomo, Ramy Youssef as Mamdani and Shane Gillis as Sliwa.
In the cold open, Teller, as Cuomo, said, “I know this city like the back of a woman’s back.” Cuomo resigned as governor in 2021 after a sexual harassment investigation.
“As soon as you are elected mayor, everyone in the city hates you, and in that way, I am already one step ahead of the game,” Teller remarked as he parodied Cuomo.
SNL also took aim at Mamdani, as Youssef told New Yorkers he wanted to provide them with universal health care, free Wi-Fi and affordable housing.
“As mayor, can I make that happen? I’m not sure yet,” Youseff’s Mamdani said, “But together, we’re going to find out — that the answer is no.”
Gillis portrayed Sliwa as a bewildered man who simply wanted to become mayor because “I need a job.”
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In the early 20th century, more than a thousand candidates from the Socialist Party of America were elected to offices nationwide, including more than 130 mayors.