The final day of early voting in New York City’s race for mayor brought a spike in turnout.
More than 150,000 people voted on the last day of early voting across the five boroughs, doubling the number who voted on the first day of early voting. As of Sunday evening, 735,317 voters had cast their ballot citywide over the entire early voting period, according to the New York City Board of Elections.
Lines were reported around the block at some polling sites.
With Election Day on Tuesday, the three candidates spent Sunday making their closing arguments to voters.
Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, the frontrunner in polls, spent the day in Harlem, cheering on his volunteers in the home stretch.
While the state Assembly member from Queens is drawing support from voters like “Sharon” who told News 4 “he’s going to bring hope to the people,” his campaign is also drawing anger from another voter who called Mamdani “such a little communist!”
Mamdani identifies himself as a Democratic Socialist, not a communist, though President Donald Trump again used the “communist” label against Mamdani in an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” Sunday.
Independent Andrew Cuomo campaigned in the Bronx, arguing to voters that Mamdani, 34, is too anti-cop, too anti-Israel, and too young and inexperienced. Mamdani campaigned in six nightclubs on Saturday night.
“This kid is going to deal with Donald Trump?” Cuomo, 67, said to reporters after addressing Heavenly Vision Church worshippers. “Donald Trump will step on him and do whatever he wants in New York.”
Some believe Mamdani’s socialist policies will damage Democrats in next year’s midterms.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) endorsed Mamdani after a long period of wait and see. When asked on Sunday if he saw Mamdani as the future of the Democratic Party, Jeffries told CNN no.
“I think the future of the Democratic Party is going to fall, as far as we’re concerned, relative to the House Democratic Caucus and members who are doing a great work all across the country,” Jeffries said.
New York’s Senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand – both Democrats – have declined to endorse Mamdani. Jeffries endorsed Mamdani last month, following Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to back him in September.
Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa squared off in the New York City general election debate, with topics ranging from Israel and Gaza, affordability, President Donald Trump, and more. David Ushery, Melissa Russo, Senior Politics reporter at Politico Sally Goldenberg, and Rosarina Breton moderate the debate, hosted by NBC 4 New York/WNBC, Telemundo 47/WNJU, and POLITICO New York
Cuomo supporters remain concerned about his chances to defeat Mamdani and his movement, especially with Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa still in the race. While Sliwa has trailed in recent polls, an Emerson College/PIX 11/The Hill survey released Thursday showed him in a dead heat with Cuomo for second place.
“My closing argument is there are three main candidates for mayor. I’m a ‘law and order’ candidate,” Sliwa, 71, told News 4. “I’ve been endorsed by Rudy Giuliani. I’m Giuliani, 2.0.”
Cuomo dismissed a phone call Mamdani reportedly had with former President Barack Obama Saturday, in which The New York Times reported Obama praised the Mamdani campaign and offered to be a “sounding board” in the future.
“He didn’t endorse him,” said Cuomo, who noted that Obama campaigned for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mikie Sherrill in Newark Saturday.
Cuomo pointed to a 2013 comment on Twitter, now X, in which Mamdani referred to Obama as “pretty damn evil”, which Mamdani addressed in June as “the stupid tweet of a college student.”
Early voting closed across New York City at 5 p.m. They will reopen on Tuesday, Election Day, from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m.
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