Skip next section WATCH – New York youth vote could prove decisive in mayoral race
11/04/2025November 4, 2025
WATCH – New York youth vote could prove decisive in mayoral race
Younger New Yorkers appear to be playing a decisive role in the city’s mayoral election. Youth turnout in some districts has reportedly tripled compared to 2021, with many hoping to shake up the political landscape beyond the United States’ most populous city.
New York youth vote could prove decisive in mayoral race
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https://p.dw.com/p/533kn
Skip next section Fact check: Is Mamdani a communist?
11/04/2025November 4, 2025
Fact check: Is Mamdani a communist?
President Trump has repeatedly slammed Democrat Zohran Mamdani as a “communist” and threatened to pull federal funding for New York City-based programs if the progressive wins on Tuesday.
Mamdani has never been part of a communist party, nor supported the idea of a communist government on the campaign trail.
He supports policies such as stronger protections for renters, free public buses, and raising the minimum wage. Mamdani has also promoted several affordability proposals in what has become one of the world’s most expensive cities, including making housing and food easier to access for the poorest New Yorkers. He has made it clear that supporting New York’s immigrant and LGBT+ communities is a major priority.
One of the ways he has suggested paying for these programs is by increasing taxes on large corporations and millionaires based in New York City, where Trump made his name as a real estate mogul.
Mamdani, who rejects the communist label, calls himself a democratic socialist, of the type that has been seen in European governments for decades. In the US, calling progressives ‘communist’ has long been used by opponents to discredit them.
https://p.dw.com/p/533i5
Skip next section WATCH – New York mayoral race set to shape US Democrats’ future
11/04/2025November 4, 2025
WATCH – New York mayoral race set to shape US Democrats’ future
Zohran Mamdani, a millennial New York State Assembly member, is now the frontrunner to become New York City’s next mayor.
His campaign promises include rent freezes, free buses, and public childcare — funded by taxing the rich. Critics call his platform unrealistic.
If elected, Mamdani would be NYC’s first Muslim mayor, with his win potentially reshaping the Democratic Party‘s future.
New York mayoral race set to shape US Democrats’ future
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https://p.dw.com/p/533kk
Skip next section Why isn’t incumbent Eric Adams running for re-election?
11/04/2025November 4, 2025
Why isn’t incumbent Eric Adams running for re-election?
After two successful stints as Brooklyn Borough President, former NYPD captain Eric Adams was elected mayor in 2021.
Then, in 2023 and 2024, a series of federal investigations were announced into Adams and his administration on charges of fraud, bribery, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. His close relationship with Turkish President and strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan has come under particular scrutiny.
When it became clear that the Democratic party would not back him, he announced his intention to run for a second term as an Independent candidate, but withdrew from the race in September following a lack of enthusiasm for his campaign.
https://p.dw.com/p/533FO
Skip next section Why is Trump backing former Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo?
11/04/2025November 4, 2025
Why is Trump backing former Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo?
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Donald Trump and then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo were often at odds over their handling of the crisis. Cuomo directly blamed the Trump administration for excess COVID deaths.
However, the progressive policies of Zohran Mamdani, which include expanded free childcare and free city buses, have prompted Trump to endorse Cuomo in the New York mayoral race.
You can read more about Trump’s endorsement here.
https://p.dw.com/p/533SX
Skip next section Who are Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa?
11/04/2025November 4, 2025
Who are Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa?
Running against Mamdani is former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, who also served as federal Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under former President Bill Clinton. He is also the son of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo.
Cuomo became incredibly popular amongst Democratic-leaning voters across the US for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York, including what were seen as his personable and reliable video messages with the latest information.
However, his star fell quickly when he was faced with numerous sexual assault allegations in late 2020. In 2021, he resigned as governor. After losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani this past June, he announced his intention to run for mayor of New York as an independent.
Since then, he has consistently polled below Mamdani but above Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Sliwa is a longtime conservative activist who has hosted talk radio shows and been arrested multiple times for his work as founder of the ‘Guardian Angels’ group. The organization says they promote community safety in New York, but have been consistently criticized for espousing racist beliefs and for engaging in vigilantism.
The latest polls ahead of election day put Mamdani at about 46%, Cuomo at 32%, and Sliwa at 16% of the vote.
https://p.dw.com/p/533LL
Skip next section Polls open across New York
11/04/2025November 4, 2025
Polls open across New York
Poll stations were open bright and early in New York at 6 am local time (1100 GMT) to help workers who might not be able to make it later. The voting booths will stay open late as well, until 9 pm.
Early voting was also available in many areas, with local election officials saying a record was set with over 700,000 early votes cast.
The election is set to have an unusually high turnout, with massive numbers of young voters more engaged than in previous years.
https://p.dw.com/p/533dC
Skip next section Zohran Mamdani: Who is the likely new mayor of New York?
11/04/2025November 4, 2025
Zohran Mamdani: Who is the likely new mayor of New York?
At only 34 years old, Mamdani would be one of the city’s youngest-ever mayors, as well as its first Muslim leader and the first person of South Asian descent to hold the office. Born in Uganda, he would be the only first-generation immigrant to be elected in over a century.
After a resounding victory in the Democratic party primary in June, Mamdani has been leading in the polls ever since.
You can read more about Mamdani’s meteoric rise from state lawmaker to likely mayor here.
https://p.dw.com/p/533BF
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage11/04/2025November 4, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
New York City heads to the polls today to chose who will follow disgraced incumbent Eric Adams as mayor of the biggest city in the US by population.
Relative newcomer Zohran Mamdani looks likely to be the city’s first Muslim and youngest-ever mayor.
Like many major metropolitan areas around the world, the mayor of New York plays an outsized role in US politics. Mamdani’s progressive policies have earned him the ire of US President Donald Trump as he faces off against the scandal-plagued former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican talk show host Curtis Sliwa, who has been arrested dozens of times for vigilantism.
DW will bring you the latest headlines and analyses from New York right here.
https://p.dw.com/p/5331w
