NEW YORK: With election day approaching, New York City’s mayoral race has entered its most competitive phase, dominated by debates on relations with President Donald Trump, the Gaza war, and the city’s core issues of safety, policing, and housing.
The three-way contest — between Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, independent contender Andrew Cuomo, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa — has energized voters ahead of the November 4 ballot, with early voting turnout already exceeding 300,000.
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 June primary. If elected, he would become the first Muslim mayor in New York City’s history.
Background and Early Life
Born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1991 to Indian-origin parents, Mamdani moved to New York at the age of seven. His mother, Mira Nair, is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, while his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a professor at Columbia University. He graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and earned a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College in Maine. He is married to Syrian artist Rama Duwaji.
Political Views and Campaign
Identifying as a democratic socialist, Mamdani promotes progressive policies aimed at reducing the cost of living for working-class New Yorkers. His proposals include rent freezes, free public buses, and expanded affordable housing and childcare.
A vocal critic of the Trump administration, Mamdani has pledged to “be there to fight him” if the president “comes after” New York — a reference to Trump’s decision to deploy federal troops in Democratic-run cities.
Pro-Palestine Stance
Mamdani is widely recognized for his support of Palestine and criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Following the cease-fire, 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.”
He co-founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine during his college years and joined a hunger strike outside the White House in 2023, demanding a cease-fire.
Mamdani has faced criticism for defending the phrase “globalize the intifada” and for supporting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. He denies accusations of antisemitism and has said that he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — wanted by the International Criminal Court — if he entered New York.
Independent Contender
Former New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani. He served as the state’s 56th governor for more than a decade before resigning in 2021 following multiple sexual harassment allegations.
Background
The 67-year-old son of the late Governor Mario Cuomo was raised in Queens and studied at Fordham University and Albany Law School. His career includes serving as a Manhattan assistant district attorney and later as US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under former President Bill Clinton.
Political Campaign and Views
Cuomo’s campaign revolves around his Safe New York City agenda, emphasizing public safety and crime prevention. He proposes adding 5,000 new officers to the NYPD and enhancing security in the subway system.
Pro-Israel Stance and Islamophobia Allegations
A strong supporter of Israel, Cuomo has drawn backing from pro-Israel voters. In 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 comment suggesting Mamdani would celebrate another “9/11.” Mamdani’s team also accused his political action committee (PAC) of “blatant Islamophobia” after it darkened his beard in an edited photo.
In another controversy, Cuomo’s account briefly posted an AI-generated video mocking Mamdani’s South Asian heritage, later deleted as a “technical error.”
Curtis Sliwa: Republican Candidate
Trailing behind Mamdani and Cuomo, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa remains adamant about continuing his campaign. This is his second bid for mayor, following his 2021 run as the GOP nominee.
Background and Early Life
Sliwa, 71, is a well-known media personality, radio host, and founder of the Guardian Angels — a nonprofit crime-prevention group he established in 1979 in response to rising crime in New York. He lives in Manhattan with his wife, attorney Nancy Sliwa.
Political Views and Campaign
Sliwa’s campaign emphasizes public safety, affordability, homelessness, and mental health. Drawing on his Guardian Angels experience, he advocates for more police officers and stronger community-based crime prevention.
Pro-Israel and Islamophobia Allegations
A vocal supporter of Israel, Sliwa participates in the city’s annual Israel Day Parade. During the final mayoral debate, he attacked Mamdani’s 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.”
