NYC mayoral primary opens with Cuomo, Mamdani locked in close race
Thousands of New Yorkers are headed to the polls Tuesday, June 24, for the city’s hotly contested Democratic mayoral primary, with initial results expected late in the evening but no final outcome until July 1. The ranked-choice contest is shaping up as a two-man race between former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.
When do polls open and close?
Polling sites across New York City opened at 6 a.m. ET and will close at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Voters cast ballots amid record-breaking heat, with temperatures expected to reach 102 degrees during the day. Despite the conditions, approximately 400,000 New Yorkers had already cast their votes during the early voting period from June 14 to June 22, according to the New York City Board of Elections.
Who are the leading candidates in the Democratic primary?
Cuomo entered the primary as the early frontrunner but has seen his lead narrow in recent weeks. Mamdani has gained ground through cross-endorsements with other candidates, including City Comptroller Brad Lander and the Rev. Michael Blake.
According to the latest Emerson College Polling survey conducted from June 18 to 20, Cuomo holds a narrow three-point edge over Mamdani in the first-choice preferences. However, in the ranked-choice simulation, Mamdani held a narrow lead in the eighth round.
Other candidates in the crowded Democratic field include City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, state Sens. Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos, former comptroller Scott Stringer and businessman Whitney Tilson.
How does ranked-choice voting work in NYC?
Voters may rank up to five candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Votes for eliminated candidates are redistributed based on voters’ next choices. This process repeats until one candidate secures a majority.
The Board of Elections expects to release first-round results Tuesday night. Full ranked-choice tabulations will follow after all voting machine hard drives are collected and processed. A final winner is expected by July 1 at noon.
What happens after the Democratic primary?
The Democratic nominee enters the general election in November but may face several of Tuesday’s losing candidates who plan to continue their campaigns.
Cuomo has already filed to run as an independent if he loses the primary. He picked up late endorsements from Bill Clinton, Michael Bloomberg and Jim Clyburn ahead of Tuesday’s primary.
Mamdani is expected to receive support from the Working Families Party for a general election bid.
In November, the Democratic nominee will face Republican Curtis Sliwa, independent Jim Walden and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is seeking reelection as an independent.
What else is on the ballot?
In addition to the mayoral race, voters are selecting nominees for citywide positions, including comptroller and public advocate. Several borough presidents, district attorney and city council races also appear on local ballots.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
