New York City Mayoral Primary a Toss-Up as Voters Head to Polls Amidst Heat Dome

NEW YORK – The New York City Democratic mayoral primary is heading for a nail-biting finish, with sources from both the Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani campaigns declaring the race a “jump ball.” Despite 11 candidates appearing on the ballot, the contest has largely focused on Cuomo, the former governor who resigned in 2021, and Mamdani, a democratic socialist assemblyman with less than five years of government experience.

The primary election on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, could hinge on which candidate voters find the least objectionable. Cuomo faces lingering skepticism related to sexual harassment allegations and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, while Mamdani’s critics question his limited government experience and past statements on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Polls close at 9 p.m. Eastern, but the ranked-choice voting system means a winner may not be known for days [[1]].

an oppressive heat dome settled over the East Coast, with stay-inside advisories perhaps depressing voter turnout and amplifying the importance of early voters. The heat is expected to reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the hottest day of the year so far [[2]].

Cuomo’s Experience vs. Mamdani’s New Vision

cuomo is campaigning on his experience in passing legislation and managing projects, bolstered by an endorsement from former President Bill Clinton. He is positioning himself as a bulwark against the leftward shift within the Democratic Party, criticizing what he calls a “far-left socialist mentality.”

“What has the democratic Party produced for anybody recently? What has it done for the people in this city? The city’s going backwards. What did it do for the country? The country’s been going backwards. And that’s the problem with the Democratic Party,” Cuomo said at a campaign event.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Queens congressman endorsing Cuomo, hopes national leaders will take note of Cuomo’s focus and coalition-building, seeing it as preparation for the 2026 house elections.

Mamdani, conversely, emphasizes the need for a new generation of politics, proposing solutions to the city’s affordability crisis, including rent freezes and city-owned grocery stores. The 33-year-old assemblyman has gained traction, particularly among younger voters, who are disaffected with the Democratic Party establishment.

“So much of what he celebrates as his record are the things that he worked his hardest to water down when he was actually in power,” Mamdani said. “an idea is only as good as its implementation. and these ideas we have put forward of freezing the rent and making buses fast and free, delivering universal childcare, we put them forward because we’re confident we can deliver them.”

Mamdani’s socialist proposals and positions on Israel have drawn opposition from some Democrats.Cuomo has accused Mamdani of fueling antisemitic hate,which Mamdani denies.

Did You Know? new York city has elected a Republican mayor in five of its last eight mayoral elections.

Ranked-Choice Voting Complicates the Outcome

New York City is using a ranked-choice system for the second time in a mayoral primary. Voters rank their top five candidates,and votes are reallocated over multiple rounds until a candidate wins a majority. In 2021, current Mayor Eric Adams won by just 7,000 votes after seven rounds.

Mamdani and city Comptroller Brad Lander have cross-endorsed each other, urging supporters to rank the other second. Other groups are pushing a “Don’t Rank Cuomo” effort.

If no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, the New York City Board of Elections will release a first look at the ranked-choice results on July 1. though, potential legal challenges could further delay the final outcome.

pro Tip: Understanding how ranked-choice voting works can substantially impact your vote. Research the candidates and consider ranking multiple choices.

Heat Wave and Potential Legal Challenges

The heat wave could impact voter turnout, potentially affecting Cuomo, whose support base includes older voters. The New York City Board of Elections is distributing fans and water to polling sites without air conditioning.

Multiple campaigns have voiced concerns about the heat’s impact on the election. If polling sites are unable to operate properly or voting machines break down, legal challenges are expected.

General Election Outlook

The Democratic primary winner will face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who opted out of this year’s primary, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Unlike the primary, the general election in November will not use ranked-choice voting. The candidate with the most votes wins outright.

Cuomo is considering running on his own ballot line if he loses the Democratic primary. the Working Families party is expected to give its ballot line to Mamdani if he doesn’t win the Democratic nomination.

New York City has a history of electing Republican mayors, including Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg.Bloomberg,who has as become a Democrat again,has endorsed and donated to Cuomo.

What impact will the heat wave have on voter turnout? How will the ranked-choice voting system affect the outcome of the primary?