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Politico
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Mamdani makes RCV boring
Presented by the Coalition for a Better Times Square With help from Amira McKee Today's tabulation of ranked-choice votes could've been HUGE — the day we finally found out who won New York City's wild mayoral primary. Instead, we got a definitive Zohran Mamdani win on election night that few people predicted. So hot takes have already been published, the data has already been analyzed and general election endorsements have already been made — the latest, a shrug from City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. The Board of Elections plans to publish the RCV results on its website today at noon. That will effectively be the final results for all the city's primary races. The only votes that won't be tabulated yet are late-arriving absentee ballots. Those mail-in votes will be included in another RCV tabulation next week, before the election results are certified later this month. But those few remaining votes are highly unlikely to shift the outcome in any races. When the numbers drop today, we'll be checking what share of City Comptroller Brad Lander's votes go to Mamdani, what share go to former governor Andrew Cuomo — and what share of those ballots are exhausted, going to neither. Pre-primary polling showed people who preferred Lander splitting their lower-ranked votes between Mamdani and Cuomo. If a bunch more now go to Mamdani, it'll highlight the power of cross-endorsements in an RCV scenario. It could also keep feeding the rumors that Lander might challenge Rep. Dan Goldman in a 2026 primary, as City & State reports. Cuomo's team insists they don't have much interest in the RCV numbers. 'We don't expect the final tabulations tomorrow to be all that revelatory,' campaign spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said. They're looking at polling instead, and trying to predict the electorate in November to gauge whether he'll bother running a serious general election campaign on the independent 'Fight and Deliver' ballot line. Mayor isn't the only race in town. A handful of City Council races were too close to call on election night, and candidates on the east side of Manhattan, western Queens and central Queens are all hoping to be this year's Kristin Richardson Jordan, who pulled off a come-from-behind victory four years ago. RCV got a lot of hate in 2021. Mayor Eric Adams slammed it as 'voter suppression,' and there were widespread concerns that voter education was lacking. This year, 96 percent of city voters said their ballot was simple to complete, and 81 percent said they understood RCV 'extremely well' or 'very well.' That's according to a SurveyUSA exit poll of 991 Democratic primary voters conducted for government reform groups Common Cause New York and FairVote, which both support RCV. We'll get official numbers from the BOE, but 69 percent of voters say they ranked three or more candidates. 'Voting is becoming ranking in the nation's largest city,' said Deb Otis, director of research and policy at FairVote. 'Voters get more choice, more competition, and a majority winner without a costly, low-turnout July runoff.' The clear election night victory was a clear public relations victory for RCV too. There would have been a lot of grumbling from some stressed out New Yorkers this week otherwise. — Jeff Coltin IT'S TUESDAY. HAPPY FISCAL NEW YEAR IN NEW YORK CITY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. WHERE'S KATHY? In Erie County making a housing announcement, and then meeting with middle-class parents and announcing 'investments in New York families.' WHERE'S ERIC? In New York City meeting with senior administration officials, making a public safety-related announcement with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and signing legislation related to insurance coverage for city-licensed vehicles. QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'It's not every day you see a pig, the Mayor, @NMalliotakis,@Curt i sSliwa, and me all on the same side — but here we are. Lucy stays with her family, as she should!' — City Council Member Frank Morano on a pet pig permitted to stay with her Staten Island family. ABOVE THE FOLD THE FRAUGHT POLITICS OF RENT HIKES: The promise of a rent freeze was a central tenet of Zohran Mamdani's winning campaign in last week's Democratic primary for mayor. But for now — at least — New York City's rent-regulated tenants will see another rent hike by the Rent Guidelines Board. The panel voted Monday night to raise rents by 3 percent on one-year leases and 4.5 percent on two-year leases in regulated housing. It's the fourth consecutive rent hike under Mayor Eric Adams, whose predecessor Bill de Blasio oversaw three rent freezes and otherwise very modest increases during his eight-year tenure. The landlord lobby still considers the Adams-era rent increases insufficient, this year's included. But some owner advocates — perhaps bracing themselves for a Mamdani mayoralty — praised the panel on Monday for rejecting a rent freeze. 'While we are disappointed that the RGB once again adjusted rents below inflation, we appreciate that they stood up to political pressure calling for rent freezes that would accelerate the financial and physical deterioration of thousands of older rent-stabilized buildings,' Kenny Burgos, CEO of the New York Apartment Association, said in a statement. Following the vote, Adams sought to distance himself from the board's decision. 'I am disappointed that [the panel] approved increases higher than what I called for,' he said in a statement. He had previously urged the board to 'adopt the lowest increase possible.' Mamdani, for his part, pledged Monday that 'change is coming.' 'As voters showed last Tuesday, New Yorkers are ready for a city government that lowers costs instead of padding real estate profits,' he said in a statement. Tenant activists were optimistic: 'This will be the last rent hike New Yorkers ever see from a mayor bought and paid for by real estate,' said Cea Weaver, director of the New York State Tenant Bloc. — Janaki Chadha CITY HALL: THE LATEST 'BEST BUDGET EVER': The New York City Council passed next fiscal year's $115.9 billion budget with unanimous approval on Monday — the council's first uncontested budget vote in years. 'This is the first time I will be voting yes on this budget, because we have finally surpassed the bare minimum,' democratic socialist City Council Member Alexa Avilés said Monday. She voted no the last three years to show opposition to budget cuts pushed by Mayor Eric Adams. Touted as a way to 'Trump-proof' the city, the election year budget is the largest in city history. Despite the record spending — or perhaps because of it — City Hall officials say the negotiations were relatively painless. The final spending blueprint, which Adams has touted as the 'best budget ever,' includes $10 million to pilot a cost-free childcare program and $74.7 million for immigrant legal services. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams celebrated the budget agreement as a victory and the culmination of a three year tug-of-war with the mayoral administration. 'We really did become what we never should have become, and that was the council of restoration instead of the council of building. Now, in this fourth budget, I believe that we have a clear vision,' she told Playbook. 'It's a monumental thing … finally putting forth … many of the things that should have been done years ago.'— Amira McKee & Jeff Coltin More from the city:— Eric Adams broke the law when he refused to implement elements of a city law severely restricting the use of solitary confinement in the jails, a state judge ruled. (Daily News) — A lease for city office space in a building owned by a billionaire Adams donor is moving forward, even as an investigation into the deal continues. (THE CITY) — Across New York City, political comebacks failed. (City & State) NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY SIENA POLL BLOWOUT: There's good and bad news for Gov. Kathy Hochul in today's Siena College poll. On the positive side: She's leading her likely Democratic primary opponents and potential Republican foes by double digits. On the not-so-great side: Hochul doesn't surpass 50 percent in either race. The survey is an indication the governor's bid for a second full term next year stands to be an unpredictable race — even in a deep blue state. Hochul would easily defeat Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado and Rep. Ritchie Torres — who is yet to declare whether he will run — by a blowout margin in a Democratic primary. Hochul received 49 percent, compared to Delgado's 12 percent and Torres' 10 percent. In potential general election matchups, Hochul would beat Rep. Elise Stefanik 47 percent to 24 percent, Rep. Mike Lawler 44 percent to 24 percent, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman 44 percent to 19 percent. None of the potential GOP candidates have formally entered the race. Hochul's numbers, however, remain middling. Only 42 percent of voters have a favorable view of her, while 47 percent do not — virtually unchanged since the same poll last month. Hochul has arguably had a successful year. She won approval of a budget that included her measures to address affordability with taxpayer rebate checks and a ban on cellphones in schools — a measure that's drawn national interest. The governor still has a lot of work to do with crucial suburban and independent voters. While 55 percent of New Yorkers prefer 'someone else,' that desire is even stronger in the bellwether suburbs (62 percent) and among voters not enrolled in either party (63 percent). She is also yet to unleash her campaign war chest, which stood at more than $15 million in January. Hochul has been steering cash to the state Democratic Committee with a plan to use the party's political infrastructure to her advantage next year. The poll of 800 registered voters was conducted from June 23 to June 26. It has a 4.4 point margin of error. — Nick Reisman MORE ON THE GOV'S RACE: Blakeman is joining a long list of Republicans trying to leverage campaign donations from Mamdani's Democratic mayoral primary victory. Blakeman's Nassau County executive campaign sent a fundraising email Monday to donors that warned what happens in the city will impact the suburbs. 'The results of the New York City mayoral race have made one thing clear: the political tides in our region are shifting fast,' the email stated. 'The choices made in the city ripple out to every surrounding community. Policies on public safety, taxes, and quality of life are on the ballot every day — not just in NYC, but here too.' — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — Hochul's creation of a gun violence office was approved as a Trump rebuke. (Times Union) — In Auburn, regional GOP leaders urge 'battle-tested' Rep. Mike Lawler to run for governor. (The Citizen) — Western New York is trying to get back into Canada's good graces. (Buffalo News) KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION TRUMP'S TAKE ON MAMDANI: Donald Trump isn't on board with Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles' call for Mamdani to be stripped of citizenship and deported, but that doesn't mean the president is at all a fan of the democratic socialist, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday. 'I haven't heard him call for that, but certainly he does not want this individual to be elected,' Leavitt told reporters. 'I was just speaking to him about it and [Mamdani's] radical policies that will completely crush New York City, which is obviously a city that the president holds near and dear to his heart.' Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding from his hometown if Mamdani doesn't 'do the right thing' if elected mayor in November. He hasn't yet gone as far as Ogles, a Republican who called Mamdani 'little muhammad' and urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to remove him from the country. Mamdani was born in Uganda, but moved to New York at age 7. Several Democrats rushed to Mamdani's defense and condemned the Islamophobic attacks, including New York House moderates who've otherwise been critical of the candidate. Leavitt said Monday that general election voters in New York City should choose wisely, calling Mamdani a communist. Mamdani has clarified that he is a socialist. — Emily Ngo More from the delegation: — Elon Musk said he would follow through on threats to form a third party if Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' is enacted by Congress. (POLITICO) — Brad Lander calls Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's comments about Mamdani 'awful.' (WNYC) — A GOP city real estate developer says his experience with war in his native Kosovo will help him topple Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (New York Post) NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — The echoes of a crisis inside the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan, a former migrant shelter. (New York Times) — Efforts intensify to make the Plattsburgh airport a port of entry. (Times Union) — Legal Aid Society lawyers in New York City were locked in a struggle for higher pay after authorizing their union to strike. (New York Times) SOCIAL DATA HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Diane Ravitch … former state Sen. Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. … Mike Schweinsburg of the 504 Dems … OCME's Persephone Tan … Julie Shiroishi of Eleanor's Legacy … NBC's Kristen Welker … Sally Quinn … Brett Zongker … Mike Czin of SKDK … Bloomberg's Olivia Alafriz … (WAS MONDAY): Noam Lustiger ... Abbey Taub Missed Monday's New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here.
NBC News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
New York City's mayoral primary casts bright light on ranked choice voting — and its future nationally
New York City's high-profile mayoral primary this week shined a bright light on the nation's ongoing experiment with ranked choice voting, reopening the debate over the relatively new, unique and complex system. New York City is among the 63 jurisdictions — which include cities, states and counties — that have in recent years implemented ranked choice voting for some or all of their elections. Advocates have argued the system gives lesser-known candidates greater opportunities to compete and encourages politicians to build consensus and broaden their appeal, since voters have the ability to choose more than one name on their ballots. Critics have pointed out that tabulating ranked choice ballots takes longer and delays final results and contend the system sows confusion among voters. Tuesday's election may end up providing both sides with fresh data points for their arguments. Final results of the Democratic primary for mayor most likely won't be known until next week, even as former Gov. Andrew Cuomo conceded to state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. Supporters of the system say the campaign to lead American's biggest city — which used ranked-choice voting for just the second time in a mayoral primary election — shows voters and candidates alike are acclimating to the system. 'What we've seen in the mayoral race is a better understanding among more candidates of ranked choice voting,' said Susan Lerner, the executive director of Common Cause New York, a government watchdog and reform advocacy group that has advocated for ranked choice voting. 'That ranked choice allows you to cross-endorse, allows you to speak to more voters, that you don't just have to focus on the people who have already decided you are their one and only choice," she said in an interview ahead of Tuesday night's results. "We have seen that understanding really being applied more broadly in the mayoral primary.' Lessons learned from 2021 The rules for ranked choice voting differ depending on where it's used. In New York City, voters may rank up to five candidates in one race. After the votes are tabulated, the last-place candidate is eliminated. Ballots from voters who supported that candidate then have their next choices counted. If no candidate has hit 50%, counting continues, eliminating another last-place candidate and counting the next-ranked choices on all those ballots in the following round. Tuesday's results showed Mamdani with 43.5% support in the first-choice count, compared with 36.4% for Cuomo. Since no candidate hit the 50% mark, city election officials will now begin to count voters' second choices. Mamdani, 33, who identifies as a democratic socialist, ran an energetic, digitally savvy campaign centered on tackling higher costs and progressive policy promises he said he'd pay for with taxes on the rich. Deb Otis, the director of research and policy for the election reform group FairVote, said in an interview that the system, combined in New York City with the availability of public financing of campaigns, 'lets candidates stay in the race and make their case to voters.' That's in part because the system offers candidates incentives to support one another. Mamdani secured cross-endorsements with several fellow candidates, meaning he and those candidates directed supporters to rank each other second on their ballots. 'If this were any of the cities that don't use ranked choice voting, these progressive candidates would have been sniping at each other the whole time and pushing each other to drop out so that they don't split the vote,' Otis said. 'Instead, we see those candidates all able to run, instead of shoving each other out of the race. And I think that that's better for voters.' Critics of New York City's system have emphasized the delays ranked choice tabulation creates in releasing official results — a particular concern amid the rise of false allegations of widespread voter fraud made by President Donald Trump and his allies. 'There's already lots of questions of trust in the [election] process — we are at point in the world where trust in the democratic process is low and flagging,' said Sam Oliker-Friedland, the executive director of the Institute for Responsive Government, which opposes ranked choice voting as a one-size-fits-all concept. 'Part of implementing it properly is finding a way to count ballots at relatively the same speed that we're counting ballots now and not adding a week or more than week to the ballot-counting timeline.' Pointing to evidence from New York City's maiden voyage with ranked choice voting in 2021, critics have also suggested voters may not fully understand how the complicated system works. In the 2021 Democratic mayoral primary, 13.4% of voters ranked only one candidate, according to a CUNY Graduate Center analysis of the results, because either they chose to disregard or didn't know that they could rank more. In other ways, it became evident that candidates and other power players in New York City politics learned lessons from 2021. For example, high-profile Democrats — most notably Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who backed Mamdani — issued their endorsements in detailed statements or videos that conveyed to voters how they should rank their slates of candidates. And unlike in 2021, when two Democratic mayoral candidates effectively split the progressive vote, providing a clearer path for the more moderate Eric Adams, liberals this time worked together in a concerted anti-Cuomo effort. Rising ranked choice voting enthusiasm, followed by a retreat The heightened national political focus on New York's mayoral race could breathe new air into the debate over ranked choice voting — the expansion of which has plateaued in the United States after an explosive start just a few years ago. Less than three years ago, voters in eight jurisdictions passed ballot measures adopting ranked choice voting. They included Alaska, which became the second state to use it in state and federal elections. Maine has used the system in state and federal elections since 2018. New York City adopted the system in 2019 for just a handful of city primary elections, including the mayoral primaries, and used it for the first time in 2021. Meanwhile, other advances put the number of cities and towns that switched to ranked choice voting by 2022 at more than 50. Progressives initially embraced the system as a way to help curb the influence and success of more establishment-friendly candidates, and conservatives and moderates began to see opportunity in the system for a short period of time before they turned against it. Seventeen GOP-controlled states have enacted laws banning ranked choice voting, and the Republican National Committee adopted a resolution formally opposing it in 2023. More broadly, enthusiasm soon faded. Most of the legislation that sprouted in 2023 to implement or expand ranked choice voting failed. Last November, voters in all eight states where advocates had placed election reforms including ranked choice voting on their ballots — a group that stretched across the political spectrum — roundly rejected the proposals. In Alaska, an effort to repeal the state's two-year-old ranked choice voting system failed. After having spent more than $100 million in support of the ranked choice voting ballot measures, advocates said their failure was a product of established interests' pushing back against something new. But critics argued that the system is simply not meant as a cure-all for elections everywhere. 'Everyone would love to find the sort of gadget that's going to save democracy. But ultimately, there are no silver bullets that are going to make everything better,' Oliker-Friedland said. 'That was sort of pitched that way to voters last year, and that message correctly failed — there is no social reform that is a magic bullet that works everywhere,' he said. 'We have to do the hard work of pairing it to particular contexts.'
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How ranked-choice voting works in the New York City mayoral primary
New Yorkers voting in the city's closely-watched Democratic mayoral primary election on June 24 will be able to rank their top five candidates thanks to ranked-choice voting -- and that's set the scene for candidates on the ballot, who are ostensibly rivals, telling their supporters to vote for each other. On their ballot, voters can rank up to five candidates in any order. Ranking one candidate in two spots, though, does not give that candidate two votes. According to the New York City Board of Elections, if a candidate gets over 50% of the first-choice votes, that candidate wins the race outright. If no candidate breaks 50%, the candidate with the least amount of votes is eliminated, and vote tabulation continues in rounds. In the second round, voters whose first-choice candidate got eliminated get their second-choice vote counted. If that voter's first-choice candidate was not eliminated, their second-choice vote is not counted. This keeps going until only two candidates remain, according to the board, and the candidate in the lead at that point wins the primary. New York City first used ranked-choice voting citywide in the 2021 municipal primary elections. MORE: Cuomo, Mamdani vie for top spot in NYC Democratic mayoral primaryMORE: Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez endorses Zohran Mamdani in NYC mayoral race after chaotic debate Advocates of ranked choice voting have praised it as allowing voters to have more choices. FairVote, a nonpartisan group advocating for ranked-choice voting, has praised how it allows more positive campaigns and collaboration between candidates. Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran Democratic political strategist, told ABC News that ranked-choice voting might be "confusing" to voters who are not used to it. "Voting is habitual and ritualistic. Changing the system benefits the more educated and affluent while injuring others," he said. Since voters are able to rank multiple candidates, some candidates have been able to form unusual alliances with each other -- including telling their supporters to rank each other. Two of the progressive-leaning mayoral candidates – state assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and city comptroller Brad Lander -- announced on Friday that they are cross-endorsing each other in what they said is an effort to stop former Gov. Andrew Cuomo from winning the race. "The core reason, I think, is it it significantly increases the chances of Andrew Cuomo not winning … If you have somebody leading in the polls, and the number-two and -three candidates agree that that person is unacceptable, teaming up dramatically increases their chances," Lander said at an event on Friday with Mamdani. Sheinkopf said that the cross-endorsements by progressive candidates such as Mamdani and Lander are ultimately meant to limit the amount of votes Cuomo can get, although he feels that the cross-endorsements also amount to "making deals to win without telling voters what the deals could cost should any of the dealers win." Many organizations have also endorsed multiple candidates, sometimes telling supporters the order in which to rank them. Some organizations, such as the New York Working Families Party, have sounded a similar tone to Lander and Mamdani, saying that voters should rank the group's endorsed candidates and not rank Cuomo at all. The Cuomo campaign has shrugged off the cross-endorsements and calls from groups to not rank the former governor. "We are running our campaign, they are running theirs -- ultimately the voters will decide," Esther Jensen, a spokesperson for the Cuomo campaign, told ABC News in a statement. Cuomo has support from two other mayoral candidates, although they are not cross-endorsements. Mayoral candidate and state Sen. Jessica Ramos has fully endorsed Cuomo and effectively suspended her campaign, although she will still be on the ballot. Separately, mayoral candidate and former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson said at the second mayoral primary debate that he will rank Cuomo second on his ballot. On Monday, Mamdani and another former assembly member on the ballot, Michael Blake, also announced that they would cross-endorse each other in the race. MORE: Brad Lander, New York City comptroller and mayoral candidate, arrested for alleged assault at immigration court While the primary is Tuesday, June 24, fuller results won't be reported until a week later, on July 1. Instead, the city's election board expects to provide preliminary totals for voters' first-choice votes on June 24 after polls close, and then run the ranked-choice tabulation on July 1. Part of the delay can be attributed to the complex nature of collecting and tabulating the results of ranked-choice ballots, especially if no candidate crosses the 50% threshold needed to win on the first round. Polls have shown no candidate winning outright on the first round. A spokesperson for the New York City Board of Elections, Vincent Ignizio, recently told POLITICO, "We're not going to exchange speed for accuracy." ABC News' Brittany Shepherd contributed to this report.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How ranked-choice voting works in the New York City mayoral primary
New Yorkers voting in the city's closely-watched Democratic mayoral primary election on June 24 will be able to rank their top five candidates thanks to ranked-choice voting -- and that's set the scene for candidates on the ballot, who are ostensibly rivals, telling their supporters to vote for each other. On their ballot, voters can rank up to five candidates in any order. Ranking one candidate in two spots, though, does not give that candidate two votes. According to the New York City Board of Elections, if a candidate gets over 50% of the first-choice votes, that candidate wins the race outright. If no candidate breaks 50%, the candidate with the least amount of votes is eliminated, and vote tabulation continues in rounds. In the second round, voters whose first-choice candidate got eliminated get their second-choice vote counted. If that voter's first-choice candidate was not eliminated, their second-choice vote is not counted. This keeps going until only two candidates remain, according to the board, and the candidate in the lead at that point wins the primary. New York City first used ranked-choice voting citywide in the 2021 municipal primary elections. MORE: Cuomo, Mamdani vie for top spot in NYC Democratic mayoral primaryMORE: Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez endorses Zohran Mamdani in NYC mayoral race after chaotic debate Advocates of ranked choice voting have praised it as allowing voters to have more choices. FairVote, a nonpartisan group advocating for ranked-choice voting, has praised how it allows more positive campaigns and collaboration between candidates. Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran Democratic political strategist, told ABC News that ranked-choice voting might be "confusing" to voters who are not used to it. "Voting is habitual and ritualistic. Changing the system benefits the more educated and affluent while injuring others," he said. Since voters are able to rank multiple candidates, some candidates have been able to form unusual alliances with each other -- including telling their supporters to rank each other. Two of the progressive-leaning mayoral candidates – state assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and city comptroller Brad Lander -- announced on Friday that they are cross-endorsing each other in what they said is an effort to stop former Gov. Andrew Cuomo from winning the race. "The core reason, I think, is it it significantly increases the chances of Andrew Cuomo not winning … If you have somebody leading in the polls, and the number-two and -three candidates agree that that person is unacceptable, teaming up dramatically increases their chances," Lander said at an event on Friday with Mamdani. Sheinkopf said that the cross-endorsements by progressive candidates such as Mamdani and Lander are ultimately meant to limit the amount of votes Cuomo can get, although he feels that the cross-endorsements also amount to "making deals to win without telling voters what the deals could cost should any of the dealers win." Many organizations have also endorsed multiple candidates, sometimes telling supporters the order in which to rank them. Some organizations, such as the New York Working Families Party, have sounded a similar tone to Lander and Mamdani, saying that voters should rank the group's endorsed candidates and not rank Cuomo at all. The Cuomo campaign has shrugged off the cross-endorsements and calls from groups to not rank the former governor. "We are running our campaign, they are running theirs -- ultimately the voters will decide," Esther Jensen, a spokesperson for the Cuomo campaign, told ABC News in a statement. Cuomo has support from two other mayoral candidates, although they are not cross-endorsements. Mayoral candidate and state Sen. Jessica Ramos has fully endorsed Cuomo and effectively suspended her campaign, although she will still be on the ballot. Separately, mayoral candidate and former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson said at the second mayoral primary debate that he will rank Cuomo second on his ballot. On Monday, Mamdani and another former assembly member on the ballot, Michael Blake, also announced that they would cross-endorse each other in the race. MORE: Brad Lander, New York City comptroller and mayoral candidate, arrested for alleged assault at immigration court While the primary is Tuesday, June 24, fuller results won't be reported until a week later, on July 1. Instead, the city's election board expects to provide preliminary totals for voters' first-choice votes on June 24 after polls close, and then run the ranked-choice tabulation on July 1. Part of the delay can be attributed to the complex nature of collecting and tabulating the results of ranked-choice ballots, especially if no candidate crosses the 50% threshold needed to win on the first round. Polls have shown no candidate winning outright on the first round. A spokesperson for the New York City Board of Elections, Vincent Ignizio, recently told POLITICO, "We're not going to exchange speed for accuracy." ABC News' Brittany Shepherd contributed to this report.
17-06-2025
- Politics
How ranked-choice voting works in the New York City mayoral primary
New Yorkers voting in the city's closely-watched Democratic mayoral primary election on June 24 will be able to rank their top five candidates thanks to ranked-choice voting -- and that's set the scene for candidates on the ballot, who are ostensibly rivals, telling their supporters to vote for each other. How does ranked-choice voting work in New York City? On their ballot, voters can rank up to five candidates in any order. Ranking one candidate in two spots, though, does not give that candidate two votes. According to the New York City Board of Elections, if a candidate gets over 50% of the first-choice votes, that candidate wins the race outright. If no candidate breaks 50%, the candidate with the least amount of votes is eliminated, and vote tabulation continues in rounds. In the second round, voters whose first-choice candidate got eliminated get their second-choice vote counted. If that voter's first-choice candidate was not eliminated, their second-choice vote is not counted. This keeps going until only two candidates remain, according to the board, and the candidate in the lead at that point wins the primary. New York City first used ranked-choice voting citywide in the 2021 municipal primary elections. Advocates of ranked choice voting have praised it as allowing voters to have more choices. FairVote, a nonpartisan group advocating for ranked-choice voting, has praised how it allows more positive campaigns and collaboration between candidates. Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran Democratic political strategist, told ABC News that ranked-choice voting might be "confusing" to voters who are not used to it. "Voting is habitual and ritualistic. Changing the system benefits the more educated and affluent while injuring others," he said. How ranked-choice voting allows unique alliances Since voters are able to rank multiple candidates, some candidates have been able to form unusual alliances with each other -- including telling their supporters to rank each other. Two of the progressive-leaning mayoral candidates – state assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and city comptroller Brad Lander -- announced on Friday that they are cross-endorsing each other in what they said is an effort to stop former Gov. Andrew Cuomo from winning the race. "The core reason, I think, is it it significantly increases the chances of Andrew Cuomo not winning … If you have somebody leading in the polls, and the number-two and -three candidates agree that that person is unacceptable, teaming up dramatically increases their chances," Lander said at an event on Friday with Mamdani. Sheinkopf said that the cross-endorsements by progressive candidates such as Mamdani and Lander are ultimately meant to limit the amount of votes Cuomo can get, although he feels that the cross-endorsements also amount to "making deals to win without telling voters what the deals could cost should any of the dealers win." Many organizations have also endorsed multiple candidates, sometimes telling supporters the order in which to rank them. Some organizations, such as the New York Working Families Party, have sounded a similar tone to Lander and Mamdani, saying that voters should rank the group's endorsed candidates and not rank Cuomo at all. The Cuomo campaign has shrugged off the cross-endorsements and calls from groups to not rank the former governor. "We are running our campaign, they are running theirs -- ultimately the voters will decide," Esther Jensen, a spokesperson for the Cuomo campaign, told ABC News in a statement. Cuomo has support from two other mayoral candidates, although they are not cross-endorsements. Mayoral candidate and state Sen. Jessica Ramos has fully endorsed Cuomo and effectively suspended her campaign, although she will still be on the ballot. Separately, mayoral candidate and former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson said at the second mayoral primary debate that he will rank Cuomo second on his ballot. On Monday, Mamdani and another former assembly member on the ballot, Michael Blake, also announced that they would cross-endorse each other in the race. When will we know the results? Will ranked-choice voting impact when they are ready? While the primary is Tuesday, June 24, fuller results won't be reported until a week later, on July 1. Instead, the city's election board expects to provide preliminary totals for voters' first-choice votes on June 24 after polls close, and then run the ranked-choice tabulation on July 1. Part of the delay can be attributed to the complex nature of collecting and tabulating the results of ranked-choice ballots, especially if no candidate crosses the 50% threshold needed to win on the first round. Polls have shown no candidate winning outright on the first round. recently told POLITICO, "We're not going to exchange speed for accuracy."
