Underscoring just how intense the race is, more than 735,000 early votes were cast, setting a new record for the city, according to the New York City Board of Elections.
The high turnout comes as the mayoral race remains at the top of national headlines as it enters its final stages.
This is largely due to Mamdani, whose victory on Tuesday night would make him the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor, as well as the city’s first unapologetically democratic socialist leader, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.
Mr. Mamdani is campaigning on an affordability agenda in one of the most expensive metropolises in the United States, brushing off criticism from all sides, including fellow Democrats, for his left-wing politics and pro-Palestinian positions, while appealing to the pockets that matter to voters.
Mamdani has championed things like a rent freeze for New Yorkers living in rent-stabilized housing, free universal child care, free buses throughout the city and the opening of city-run grocery stores to provide cheaper food in the city of 8.4 million people.
All of this could be paid for by raising the corporate tax rate to 11.5%, the same as neighboring New Jersey, and imposing a 2% income tax on people making more than $1 million a year, he said.
Opposing him are former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, a right-wing community activist and radio talk show host.
Mr. Cuomo is running as an independent after losing to Mr. Mamdani in the Democratic primary in June. Since then, he has sought to put himself in the best position to lead the city after decades of public service, including leading New York state during the coronavirus pandemic.
But his history has come back to haunt him, due in no small part to multiple controversies that have spilled into public view during his tenure as governor, including allegations of sexual misconduct that the Justice Department has deemed credible and retaliation from more than a dozen women.
Master’s degree/PR