NEW YORK: Voting is underway for the New York mayoral election, with more than 735,000 ballots already cast during nine days of early voting.
Muslim candidate Zohran Mamdani, representing the Democratic Party, is facing tough competition from former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
According to survey polls, Mamdani currently holds a strong position. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk have endorsed Cuomo, voicing opposition to Mamdani’s progressive agenda.
President Trump warned that if Mamdani wins the mayoral election, federal funding for New York City would be restricted.
The voting process will continue from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time, with more than 5.1 million registered voters expected to cast their ballots.
Ahead of polling, Mamdani led a large rally across New York City, urging residents to vote for change. His campaign focuses on increasing taxes on the wealthy and corporations, freezing rent, and expanding affordable housing projects for low-income residents.
Meanwhile, Trump declared his full support for Cuomo, saying, “If Zohran Mamdani wins, New York City will face total economic and social collapse. Voting for Curtis Sliwa is effectively voting for Mamdani — Cuomo is the only viable option.”
