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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine TG4 Entertainment Magazine The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Andrew Cuomo, left, and Zohran Mamdani, right, are leading in the polls.Alamy The Big Apple New Yorkers are casting votes for their Democratic mayoral candidate Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans three to one in New York. 11.07pm, 24 Jun 2025 Share options NEW YORK DEMOCRATS were choosing Tuesday between an upstart 33-year-old Muslim socialist and a political veteran vying to come back from a sex harassment scandal as their candidate to lead the left-leaning city. The party’s primary contest has featured almost a dozen candidates seeking to become mayor of the biggest US city, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans three to one. As voters cast ballots in a smothering heatwave, polls showed surprise challenger Zohran Mamdani and former state governor Andrew Cuomo, 67, at the top of the heap. Polls were set to close at 9:00 pm (1:00am Irish time), but results may take time to finalise. The contest is ranked-choice, with voters asked to select five candidates in order of preference, and potentially neither Cuomo nor Mamdani getting the required majority. If no candidate wins 50% of the vote, election officials begin eliminating lowest-ranking candidates and recounting, a process that can take days. With the Democrats reeling nationally from Donald Trump’s presidential election last year, the high-profile city race has done little to calm party nerves. Cuomo stepped down as New York governor four years ago after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment. He has also been accused of mismanaging the state’s response to the Covid pandemic. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo and mayoral candidate casts his vote during Democratic Party Primaries at High School of Art and Design in New York.Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Staunchly pro-Israel Cuomo has led for most of the race, with massive name recognition as the son of another New York governor, as well as support from powerful centrist figures including former president Bill Clinton. Mamdani, meanwhile, is backed by the Democratic Socialists of America – the kind of niche, leftist affiliation that might work in the Big Apple but many analysts say the Democratic Party needs to discard to come back from the broader political wilderness. The fact that Mamdani speaks out for Palestinians and has accused Israel of “genocide” also makes him a prime target for Trump. His supporters include two other favorite Trump foils – fiery leftist Senator Bernie Sanders and progressive congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Advertisement “I see it as a referendum of the Democratic Party, whether we lean more towards the centrist candidate, who’s maybe from a different generation of politicians and people in society, or a younger, left-leaning, more ambitious, idealistic party,” voter Nicholas Zantal, 31, said. It was a contest unfolding under blazing heat, with thermometers topping almost 38 degrees Celsius. Big ideas, low experience Currently a New York state assemblyman representing the borough of Queens, Mamdani stands out for his energetic campaigning style and eye-catching policy proposals that include freezing rent for many New Yorkers, providing free bus service, and universal childcare. And in a wildly expensive city, where a three-bedroom apartment can easily cost $6,000 a month, he has surged from behind. “Tomorrow is ours if we want it,” Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and is of Indian descent, said late Monday in a social media post. “We are on the cusp of toppling a political dynasty, and delivering a New York everyone can afford.” Voter Eamon Harkin, 48, said prices were his “number one issue.” “What’s at stake is primarily the affordability of New York,” he said. But Sheryl Stein, who works in tourism marketing, was skeptical. “I like youth,” she said. But Mamdani having “no experience and no proven track record to run the largest city in this country and one of the largest in the world, is pretty scary.” Cuomo is trying to capitalize on those concerns, telling supporters Monday that “this is not a job for a novice.” “We need someone who knows what they’re doing on day one, because your lives depend on it.” Whoever gets the Democratic Party nomination will face several contenders in November – including the current, scandal-plagued mayor, Eric Adams, who is a Democrat but will run again as an independent. Viewcomments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “New Yorkers are casting votes for their Democratic mayoral candidate”. Recipient's Email Feedback on “New Yorkers are casting votes for their Democratic mayoral candidate”. Your Feedback Your Email (optional) Report a Comment Please select the reason for reporting this comment. 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