New Yorkers head to the polls next Tuesday to choose a new mayor, in a race that has drawn unprecedented attention far beyond the city’s limits. The campaign has been marked by high-profile controversy, including President Donald Trump labeling frontrunner ZOhran Madani a “communist.”
Madani, a 34-year-old Muslim American representing Queens in the state legislature, leads the Democratic field. He faces former Governor Andrew Cuomo, now running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary amid sexual misconduct allegations. Republican candidate Kurtis Sliwa, 71, known for his media presence and founding of the volunteer group “Guardian Angels,” polls third.
According to a Quinnipiac University survey conducted from October 23 to 27, Madani holds 43% of the vote, followed by Cuomo at 33% and Sliwa at 14%. The campaign has centered on the cost of living, crime, and each candidate’s approach to dealing with Trump, who has threatened to withhold federal funding from the city.
أنا اسمي زهران ممدان وعم رشّح حالي لأكون العمدة الجديد في مدينة نيويورك pic.twitter.com/ptfVdpansX
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 1, 2025
Political science professor Lincoln Mitchell of Columbia University told AFP, “Madani is an extraordinary political figure who perfectly embodies the current moment. Every anti-Trump voice in America’s largest city is receiving intense media attention. A Muslim candidate for New York mayor is a historic milestone.”
Madani has criticized opponents for anti-Muslim rhetoric and smear campaigns, denouncing both Republican and Democratic adversaries for what he called “the pervasive Islamophobia in our city.”
Early voting figures from the New York City Board of Elections show 275,006 registered Democrats, 46,115 Republicans, and 42,383 unaffiliated voters have cast ballots during the first five days of early voting, which ends November 2.
Madani’s unexpected rise has highlighted tensions between the Democratic left and centrist factions. Governor Kathy Hochul, representing the party’s moderate wing, attended a campaign rally for Madani on October 26, but her speech was drowned out by chants of “tax the rich,” reflecting criticism of Madani’s proposed 2% income tax on residents earning over $1 million annually.
Youth engagement has been a key factor in Madani’s momentum, with his campaign reporting 90,000 volunteers supporting him. Appearing on The Daily Show, he said, “It’s all about people connecting with fellow New Yorkers about the city we all love.”
Recognizing the importance of older voters, who traditionally turn out in higher numbers, Madani visited a senior center in Brooklyn for a “Drawing and Rain” event last Thursday.
Heavy weekend rains slowed campaigning, forcing all three leading candidates into last-minute television appearances to court undecided voters. Sliwa drew attention with a bizarre conservative rap video, donning his signature suit and red beret. Cuomo, 67, campaigned in Harlem alongside current Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat accused of corruption who had withdrawn from the race and ultimately endorsed Cuomo.
The British press stirred controversy after publishing an interview with former Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Madani supporter, in which he appeared to question Democratic socialist spending plans. The piece was later removed after de Blasio denied speaking to the journalist.
Madani’s campaign continues to draw national attention as New Yorkers prepare to vote in what may become one of the most historic mayoral elections in the city’s history.
Source: Al-Manar Website
