Faced with Trump’s threats to block federal resources for the city, the Democratic candidate continues with a wide advantage in all the main voting intention polls
New Yorkers go to the polls this Tuesday (4) with the Muslim leftist as favorite for mayor of the largest city in the which anticipates a Democratic opposition front against a belligerent Donald Trump. The dizzying rise of Mamdani, a 34-year-old local lawmaker, dominates headlines and voting intentions in the ‘Big Apple’. The president calls him a “communist” and threatens to block federal resources for the city if the Democrat wins.
Born in Uganda to an Indian-origin family and a naturalized American, Mamdani bluntly describes himself as a socialist and campaigned on a promise to reduce living costs for ordinary New Yorkers. In the most recent AtlasIntel survey, he led voting intentions with 41%. Former state governor Andrew Cuomo, accused of sexual assault and running as an independent after losing the Democratic Party primary to Mamdani, had 34% in the poll.
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, founder of the anti-crime watchdog group ‘Guardian Angels’, had 24%, a figure that could influence the vote if a considerable number of his supporters decide to cast a useful vote for Cuomo. Polling stations opened at 6:00 am local time (8:00 am Brasília time) and must close at 9:00 pm (11:00 pm Brasília time).
Cuomo called on social media for a vote on “experience to achieve change, for public safety and economic opportunity.” In early voting, which ended on Sunday, more than 735,000 people cast their votes, a record according to election officials. The current mayor of NY, Eric Adams, elected in 2021, gave up his bid for reelection after a series of scandals and corruption accusations. Adams announced support for 67-year-old Cuomo.
“Political confrontation”
In a last-ditch effort to win votes, Mamdani toured the city’s nightclubs in his signature dark suit over Halloween weekend. If elected, he would become the first Muslim mayor of vibrant New York, known for its cultural diversity. Mamdani addressed his supporters in Arabic in a recent video, angering far-right Republicans.
Cuomo toured the city’s five boroughs on Monday, while Sliwa walked the streets with his “tough line on crime” message. The electoral dispute focused on the rising cost of living in New York, crime and how each candidate will be able to coexist with Trump. Grant Reeher, professor of Political Science at Syracuse University, says that a Mamdani victory would establish a “confrontation” with the president.
“Trump will treat the city of in a more aggressive manner,” he said. “There will be some kind of political confrontation.” Also this Tuesday, the states of Virginia and New Jersey are holding elections to define their governors, considered even more critical indicators of the political mood in the United States, almost 10 months after the beginning of the Republican tycoon’s second term. A Democratic victory in both states would be seen as a sign that the opposition is resurfacing, ahead of next year’s midterm elections, which will determine which party will have the majority in Congress.
*With information from AFP
