2025 New York City mayoral election
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The race for New York City Mayor is heating up, with a dramatic shift in the political landscape. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, initially a Democrat, is now seeking re-election as an independent. He faces a strong challenge from Democratic state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, Republican activist Curtis Sliwa, and former governor Andrew Cuomo, also running as an independent.
Adams's path to a second term has been anything but smooth. After facing low approval ratings and federal corruption charges in 2024, he withdrew from the Democratic primary. The charges were later dismissed, paving the way for his independent bid.
Meanwhile, Andrew Cuomo, aiming for a political comeback after his 2021 resignation, emerged as a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. However, in a major upset, Zohran Mamdani, backed by progressive politicians, defeated Cuomo in the June 24th Democratic primary. Following this loss, Cuomo launched his own independent campaign. Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee from the 2021 election, ran unopposed for his party's nomination this year.
Mayor Eric Adams was first elected in 2021, narrowly winning the Democratic primary and then securing a landslide victory against Curtis Sliwa. However, the past year has seen significant challenges. In September 2024, Adams was indicted on federal charges including bribery and fraud. He pleaded not guilty, becoming the first sitting New York City mayor to face criminal charges while in office. A poll in early October 2024 revealed his approval rating at a mere 26%, with 69% of voters calling for his resignation. Fortunately for Adams, the Department of Justice instructed federal prosecutors to drop all charges in February 2025, and the case was dismissed in April 2025.
This dismissal coincided with Adams's April 2025 announcement to leave the Democratic primary and run as an independent, significantly altering the race's dynamics. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo had been leading most Democratic primary polls since March 1st and secured his place on the general election ballot. Adams is now the first incumbent mayor since John Lindsay in 1969 to seek re-election without a major party nomination. He has explored various ballot lines, including "EndAntiSemitism" and "Safe&Affordable," though state law limits candidates to one ballot line. New York City primaries use ranked-choice voting, while general elections employ a first-past-the-post system.
The Democratic primary on June 24, 2025, saw Zohran Mamdani emerge victorious. Early polls in 2025 indicated Andrew Cuomo as the frontrunner, but Mamdani gained momentum, narrowly leading in some polls just before the election. Mamdani defeated Cuomo, City Comptroller Brad Lander, and eight other candidates in a surprising upset. His platform includes a proposed 2% tax on New Yorkers earning over $1 million and significant housing initiatives like rent freezes on stabilized units and extensive public housing development. Despite his primary loss, Andrew Cuomo will remain on the general election ballot under the "Fight and Deliver Party" line.
Among the candidates who were eliminated in the Democratic primary were Adrienne Adams, speaker of the New York City Council; Selma Bartholomew, an educator; Michael Blake, a former state assemblymember; Brad Lander, the current City Comptroller; Zellnor Myrie, a state senator; Paperboy Prince, an artist; Jessica Ramos, a state senator; Scott Stringer, former City Comptroller; and Whitney Tilson, a hedge fund manager. Eric Adams, the incumbent mayor, withdrew from the primary to run as an independent. Several prominent figures, including Jennifer Jones Austin, Jamaal Bowman, Justin Brannan, Kathryn Garcia, Dan Goldman, Letitia James, Mark Levine, Yuh-Line Niou, Antonio Reynoso, Ritchie Torres, and Jumaane Williams, either declined to run or endorsed other candidates.
The Republican Party did not hold a primary, with Curtis Sliwa as their nominee. Sliwa, who was the Republican nominee in 2021, lost to Eric Adams in a landslide. Several prominent Republicans, including Joe Borelli, John Catsimatidis, and Rudy Giuliani, declined to run. Jim Walden, an attorney, initially ran as an independent but later withdrew.
On the independent and third-party front, Eric Adams announced his independent bid on April 3, 2025, eventually selecting the "Safe&Affordable" ballot line. Andrew Cuomo formed the "Fight and Deliver Party" and launched his independent campaign on July 14th. Curtis Sliwa created the "Protect Animals" ballot line, making animal rights a key part of his platform. Jim Walden, running as a "business-minded technocrat," withdrew on September 2nd, urging other non-Mamdani candidates to coalesce. Joseph Hernandez, a biotechnology entrepreneur, is also running as an independent. The Working Families Party endorsed Zohran Mamdani, ranking him first, followed by Brad Lander, Adrienne Adams, Zellnor Myrie, and Jessica Ramos. The Conservative Party nominated Irene Estrada, while the Reform Party endorsed Joseph Hernandez.
In the general election campaign, Mamdani's primary victory has led to discussions among business executives about supporting Adams. Jim Walden called for non-Mamdani candidates to unite to prevent vote splitting, and some Republicans pressured Curtis Sliwa to drop out, though he refused. Walden himself eventually withdrew, urging a "one-on-one race" against Mamdani. Donald Trump has voiced support for Eric Adams, referencing the dropped corruption charges, and even threatened to arrest Mamdani. Curtis Sliwa has positioned himself as an anti-Trump Republican, emphasizing a grassroots campaign. Andrew Cuomo is promoting a populist, centrist platform, criticizing Mamdani's brand of socialism. Reports emerged of Cuomo speaking with Donald Trump about potentially beating Mamdani, though Cuomo's campaign initially denied and then revised their statement on the call. The Democratic Socialists of America are actively supporting Mamdani, who has accused Cuomo and Trump of conspiring to "rig" the election. In September 2025, reports surfaced of Adams allegedly discussing a potential ambassadorship with a Trump advisor in Florida in exchange for dropping out of the race, though Adams publicly denied this and confirmed he would not withdraw.
Campaign controversies have arisen. In July 2025, The New York Times reported Mamdani checked both "Asian" and "Black or African American" on a 2009 university application, which he explained as representing his Indian-Ugandan heritage. Some opponents called it fraudulent, while others defended it as legitimate or trivial. Separately, four former NYPD officers filed lawsuits against Adams, alleging he enabled corruption and retaliation. Tom Donlon, interim NYPD commissioner, also filed suit, alleging a "coordinated criminal conspiracy." In August 2025, Andrew Cuomo incorrectly claimed Mamdani lived in a rent-controlled apartment, sparking a debate on housing regulations.
Islamophobia and racism have also surfaced, with several Republicans attacking Mamdani with Islamophobic and xenophobic content, referencing 9/11 and questioning his citizenship. U.S. Representative Andy Ogles's use of "little muhammad" was condemned as Islamophobic and racist. Donald Trump suggested Mamdani might be in the U.S. illegally and threatened to arrest him and withhold funding from New York City.
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An election for the mayor of New York City is scheduled for November 4, 2025. Incumbent Eric Adams, who was elected as a Democrat, is seeking re-election to a second term as an independent. He is being challenged by Democratic state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, Republican activist Curtis Sliwa, and independent former governor Andrew Cuomo.
Adams initially ran for a second term as a Democrat amid low approval ratings and a federal corruption charges indictment in 2024, but withdrew from the Democratic primary to run as an independent in April, a few months after the charges were dismissed. Cuomo, pursuing a political comeback after he resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, emerged as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. Mamdani, aided by the support of prominent progressive politicians, defeated Cuomo in the June 24 Democratic primary in a major upset victory. Following his primary loss, Cuomo launched a campaign as an independent. Sliwa, the Republican nominee in the 2021 mayoral election, ran unopposed for his party's nomination.
== Background ==
Eric Adams was elected mayor of New York City in the 2021 mayoral election, narrowly winning a Democratic primary election and defeating the Republican nominee, Curtis Sliwa, in the general election in a landslide victory.
In September 2024, a series of investigations into Adams's administration emerged. Adams was indicted on federal charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. Adams pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is the first New York City mayor to be charged with crimes while in office, and has received several calls to resign before the end of his term. An early October 2024 poll conducted by Marist College found his approval rating to be just 26%, and found that 69% of voters thought he should resign. In February 2025, the Department of Justice under the Donald Trump administration instructed federal prosecutors to drop all charges against Adams. The case against Adams was dismissed with prejudice in April 2025.
In April 2025, Adams announced that he would exit the Democratic primary and seek re-election as an independent in the 2025 New York City mayoral election. Adams' move changed the dynamic of the race. The former governor of New York Andrew Cuomo led most Democratic primary polls following the announcement of his intention to run on March 1; he also successfully petitioned his way onto the general election ballot on the "Fight and Deliver" ballot line.
Adams is the first incumbent mayor to seek re-election without the nomination of either major party since John Lindsay in 1969; Lindsay lost the Republican nomination, but ran and won on the Liberal Party of New York line. Adams has circulated petitions to run on an "EndAntiSemitism" ballot line, as well as a "Safe&Affordable" ballot line. However, the Board of Elections has limited candidates to one ballot line under state election law.
In New York City, primary elections are conducted with ranked-choice voting, while the first-past-the-post system is used for general elections.
== Democratic primary ==
Primary elections for the Democratic Party were held on June 24, 2025, with the early voting period beginning on June 14. In New York City, primaries are held using ranked-choice voting, also known as instant-runoff voting.
In early 2025, polls showed former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo leading all other mayoral candidates among Democratic voters. Leading up to the election, polls showed that Cuomo continued to be the narrow frontrunner in the Democratic primary, with Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani in second place; one June poll found that Mamdani had a narrow lead over Cuomo.
On June 24, Mamdani defeated Cuomo, City Comptroller Brad Lander, and eight other candidates to become the Democratic nominee for mayor. Mamdani's victory was considered a major upset. Mamdani has suggested imposing a flat 2% tax on New Yorkers who earn more than $1 million and a number of housing plans, such as a promise to freeze rents on rent-stabilized units, extensive public housing development and refurbishment, and stricter regulation of landlords, upsetting some in the luxury real estate market. Nevertheless, Cuomo, who also filed to run on the independent "Fight and Deliver Party" line, will remain on the general election ballot.
=== Candidates ===
==== Nominee ====
==== Eliminated in primary ====
Adrienne Adams, speaker of the New York City Council (2022–present) from the 28th district (2017–present)
Selma Bartholomew, educator
Michael Blake, former state assemblymember from the 79th district (2015–2021), candidate for public advocate in 2019, and candidate for New York's 15th congressional district in 2020
Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York (2011–2021) and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (1997–2001)
Brad Lander, New York City comptroller (2022–present)
Zellnor Myrie, state senator from the 20th district (2019–present)
Paperboy Prince, artist and perennial candidate
Jessica Ramos, state senator from the 13th district (2019–present)
Scott Stringer, former New York City comptroller (2014–2021) and candidate for mayor in 2021
Whitney Tilson, hedge fund manager
==== Withdrawn ====
Eric Adams, incumbent mayor (running as an independent)
==== Declined ====
Jennifer Jones Austin, lawyer and nonprofit CEO
Jamaal Bowman, former U.S. representative from New York's 16th congressional district (2021–2025) (endorsed Mamdani)
Justin Brannan, city councilmember from the 47th district (2018–present) (running for comptroller)
Kathryn Garcia, New York State director of Operations (2021–present), former commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation (2014–2020), and candidate for mayor in 2021
Dan Goldman, U.S. representative from New York's 10th congressional district (2023–present) (endorsed Myrie)
Letitia James, attorney general of New York (2019–present) and former New York City public advocate (2014–2018) (running for re-election, co-endorsed Adrienne Adams, Lander, Mamdani, and Myrie)
Mark Levine, Manhattan borough president (2020–present) (running for comptroller)
Yuh-Line Niou, former state assemblymember from the 65th district (2017–2022) and candidate for New York's 10th congressional district in 2022 (endorsed Mamdani)
Antonio Reynoso, Brooklyn borough president (2022–present) (running for re-election, co-endorsed Adrienne Adams, Lander, and Mamdani)
Ritchie Torres, U.S. representative from New York's 15th congressional district (2021–present) (endorsed Cuomo)
Jumaane Williams, New York City public advocate (2019–present), candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018, and candidate for governor in 2022 (running for re-election, co-endorsed Adrienne Adams, Lander, and Mamdani)
=== Results ===
== Republican primary ==
The Republican Party did not hold a primary election. Curtis Sliwa is the Republican nominee for mayor. Sliwa was the Republican mayoral nominee in 2021, but was defeated by Eric Adams in a landslide.
=== Candidates ===
==== Nominee ====
==== Declined ====
Eric Adams, incumbent Democratic mayor (2022–present) (running as an independent)
Joe Borelli, former minority leader of the New York City Council (2021–2025) from the 51st District (2015–2025)
John Catsimatidis, CEO of Gristedes and D'Agostino Supermarkets and candidate for mayor in 2013 (endorsed Adams)
Rudy Giuliani, former mayor (1994–2001) and former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York (1983–1989)
Jim Walden, antitrust and government law attorney (running as an independent; later withdrawn)
=== Endorsements ===
== Third parties and independents ==
=== Independents ===
On April 3, 2025, Eric Adams announced that he would exit the Democratic primary and would instead run in the general election as an independent. Adams has circulated petitions to run on an "EndAntiSemitism" ballot line, as well as a "Safe&Affordable" ballot line. However, the Board of Elections has limited candidates to one ballot line under state election law. Adams formally selected the latter line on August 22.
Andrew Cuomo formed a minor political party called the "Fight and Deliver Party" in May 2025. After Cuomo conceded the Democratic primary, he confirmed his intention to remain on the ballot on the "Fight and Deliver" ballot line. He would then launch his independent campaign on July 14, 2025.
The "Protect Animals" ballot line was newly created by Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, with Sliwa as the nominee. Sliwa has made animal rights a centerpiece of his campaign, accusing Animal Care Centers of NYC of mistreating animals and advocating for no-kill shelters.
Attorney and first-time political candidate Jim Walden of Brooklyn Heights ran for mayor as a "business-minded technocrat" with an anti-corruption platform. Walden sued to challenge a law that bans the use of the words "independent" and "independence" in political party names. On September 2, he withdrew and encouraged other contenders to do the same to defeat Mamdani.
==== Other declared candidates ====
Joseph Hernandez, biotechnology entrepreneur
==== Withdrawn ====
==== Did not make the ballot ====
Jean Anglade, advocate
Kyle Gutierrez, college student
Abbey Laurel-Smith, perennial candidate
Paul Mailhot, organizer for the Socialist Workers Party
Montell Moseley, former education paraprofessional
Karen Stachel, musician
=== Working Families Party ===
The Working Families Party (WFP) often endorses Democratic Party nominees in general elections even if those nominees did not receive WFP support in their respective Democratic primaries. On May 30, 2025, the WFP endorsed Mamdani. The party instructed voters to rank Mamdani first, with Brad Lander at 2, Adrienne Adams at 3, Zellnor Myrie at 4, and Jessica Ramos at 5. Ana María Archila, co-director of the New York WFP, indicated that if Andrew Cuomo won the Democratic mayoral primary, the party would most likely nominate someone other than Cuomo for mayor. On June 6, the WFP removed Ramos from its slate after she endorsed Cuomo.
==== Nominee ====
Zohran Mamdani, state assemblymember from the 36th district (2021–present)
==== Withdrawn ====
Gowri Krishna, attorney
=== Conservative Party ===
==== Nominee ====
Irene Estrada, former member of Bronx Community Board 11 and Democratic candidate for New York City's 13th City Council district in 2021 and 2023
==== Withdrawn ====
Gonzalo Duran, vice chair of the Bronx Conservative Party (running for public advocate)
=== Reform Party ===
The Reform Party endorsed Joseph Hernandez, though he will appear on the ballot without party affiliation.
== General election ==
=== Campaign ===
After Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary, several business executives reportedly began meeting with Eric Adams as they considered backing him in the general election. Jim Walden called for all "non-Mamdani" candidates to "coalesce" around one candidate in the weeks just before the election, in order to prevent vote splitting. Several Republicans in the weeks afterward pressured Curtis Sliwa to drop out in order to shore up support for Adams, but Sliwa repeated on July 7 that he would not. Walden later doubled down, pledging to drop out of the race by September if he was not the leading "non-Mamdani" candidate while giving an interview to CBS News on The Point. Walden would drop out of the race on September 2, again urging for a "one-on-one race" and calling Mamdani the "most dangerous" option for mayor. Cuomo applauded his dropping out while Eric Adams opted not to drop out of the race.
On July 1, president Donald Trump voiced support for the incumbent Eric Adams, describing him as a "very good person" and that "I helped him out a little bit"—in reference to his corruption case being dropped by Trump's Department of Justice—while also threatening to arrest and deport Mamdani. During an unrelated press conference, Adams commented that "anyone that is an elected or not should never interfere with federal authorities carrying out their functions". Trump has also suggested the possibility of placing New York under federal control if Mamdani wins.
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, in response to Trump's support for Adams, has portrayed himself as an anti-Trump Republican, saying that "[Trump] should stay out of [New York Politics]" while running a wholly grassroots campaign with his supporters of the Guardian Angels. Adams, in response, has called on Sliwa to drop out, claiming he has no chance of winning; this was despite Sliwa polling higher than Adams. By early August, Sliwa began reworking his own personal style and his platform, foregoing his iconic red beret, claiming it had become too much of a "defining issue" distracting from his campaign. Additionally, Sliwa started attempting to court unions, portraying himself as pro-worker and anti-fat cat.
Since launching his independent campaign, Andrew Cuomo has sought to promote a populist and centrist platform, stating socialism, specifically the brand Mamdani supports, "has never worked anywhere." Cuomo has offered milder alternatives to some of Mamdani's policy platforms such as opposing free busses, arguing they would cost $900 million, instead proposing a $180 million bus subsidy paid for by an increased property tax. On August 6, it was reported by The New York Times that Cuomo had a phone call with Donald Trump shortly after Trump met with New York Republicans about who they thought was the most likely candidate to potentially beat Mamdani, with a general consensus of a coalescing around a single candidate, instead of a four-way split "non-Mamdani" vote. Cuomo's campaign initially issued a statement that the two did not talk about politics on the call, but later backtracked and claimed that the call never happened.
Mamdani's victory in the Democratic primary has galvanized the Democratic Socialists of America to make more of a push to influence the Democratic Party, with the DSA convention in Chicago on August 7 primarily centered around standing and supporting more Mamdani-like candidates. Mamdani also sought to capitalize on Cuomo's call with Trump, calling it a "betrayal" of Democratic voters, and alleging that Cuomo and Trump are conspiring to "rig" the mayoral election against him, especially as Trump routinely questions Mamdani's status as a U.S. citizen.
In September 2025, The New York Times began reporting that Adams had allegedly met in Florida with Steve Witkoff, an advisor to Trump, about receiving a position in the president's administration, specifically as an ambassador, in return for him dropping out and increasing the chances of Mamdani being defeated. Later reports suggested that Adams was giving serious consideration to the proposition despite public statements denying it; part of this consideration was whether or not he would have to resign from his position as mayor. Despite this, Adams announced on September 5 that he would not be withdrawing from the race.
=== Campaign controversies ===
In July 2025 The New York Times wrote that on Mamdani's unsuccessful 2009 application to Columbia University, he checked the race boxes "Asian" and "Black or African American". Mamdani confirmed that, but said his intent was to represent his Indian-Ugandan background given the limited options available, and not to improve his chances of admission. Some of Mamdani's opponents described his action as potentially fraudulent, while his defenders said it was legitimate or trivial. Others said variously that it was comparable to Elon Musk claiming to be African American, illustrative of problems with race-conscious admissions, related to the specific history of South Asians in Africa, and a distraction from mayoral issues.
On July 8, four former NYPD officers filed individual suits against Adams and high-ranking NYPD officials. The plaintiffs had each served in leadership roles—chief of detectives, assistant chief of the criminal task force division, chief of professional standards, and second in command for internal affairs—and allege in part that Adams enabled department corruption and retaliation for speaking out. Less than two weeks later, Tom Donlon, who had served as interim NYPD commissioner, filed suit against Adams and high-ranking NYPD officials, alleging that they had engaged in a "coordinated criminal conspiracy" to enrich themselves, prevented executive misconduct investigations, forged documents, and engaged in retaliation.
In August 2025, Cuomo incorrectly claimed that Mamdani lived in a rent-controlled apartment, and that Mamdani's tenancy was responsible for the fact that "somewhere last night in New York City, a single mother and her children slept at a homeless shelter". Mamdani responded that when he first began leasing his rent-stabilized apartment, he earned less than he does now, and he plans to move out in the future. The New York Times and ABC wrote that Cuomo's attack reflects a larger debate on who should benefit from government regulation of housing costs, with housing experts and tenant advocates immediately panning Cuomo's proposal to means-test rent-stabilized apartments.
==== Islamophobia and racism ====
Shortly after Mamdani became the presumptive nominee, several Republicans attacked him using Islamophobic, racist, or xenophobic content. U.S. Representative Nancy Mace wrote on Twitter, "After 9/11 we said 'Never Forget.' I think we sadly have forgotten." Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene posted an image of the Statue of Liberty wearing a burqa. Others associated with the MAGA movement, including Laura Loomer, Charlie Kirk, and Donald Trump Jr., also spoke of Mamdani in the context of 9/11. On The Brian Lehrer Show, Democratic U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's assertions of "past positions, particularly references to global jihad" could not be substantiated; her office later said she "misspoke", and she apologized to Mamdani. The Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) noted a significant increase in Islamophobic content on Twitter the day after Mamdani became the presumptive nominee.
In a tweet, Republican U.S. Representative Andy Ogles appealed to Attorney General Pam Bondi to denaturalize and deport Mamdani, calling him "little muhammad [sic]" and "antisemitic, socialist, communist". CAIR condemned Ogles's use of "little muhammad" as Islamophobic and racist.
On July 1, Trump suggested without evidence that Mamdani might be in the U.S. illegally, adding that his administration would look into that question. Trump also threatened to arrest Mamdani and withhold funding from New York City if he refused to comply with Trump's mass deportations. Trump also suggested a federal takeover of New York City if Mamdani is elected.
=== Endorsements ===
=== Polling ===
==== Aggregate polls ====
==== General election polls ====
=== Results ===
== See also ==
2025 New York City Public Advocate election
2025 New York City Comptroller election
2025 New York City Council election
2025 New York City borough president elections
List of mayors of New York City
Politics of New York City
== Notes ==
Partisan clients
== References ==
== External links ==
Official campaign websites
Eric Adams (I) for NYC Mayor
Andrew Cuomo (I) for NYC Mayor
Joseph Hernandez (I) for NYC Mayor
Abbey Laurel-Smith (I) for NYC Mayor
Zohran Mamdani (D) for NYC Mayor
Montell Moseley (WI-I) for NYC Mayor
Curtis Sliwa (R) for NYC Mayor
Karen Stachel (WI-I) for NYC Mayor
Jim Walden (I) for NYC Mayor
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