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New York Times
18 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
In N.Y.C. Mayor's Race, Top Democrats Take On Trump and Their Own Party
The clash consuming New York City is one that has become almost routine in Democratic politics. On one side stands a moderate pragmatist who first took public office three decades ago. On the other is a democratic socialist half his age who has leaped past more seasoned rivals and captured the imagination of the left. The two leading Democratic candidates for mayor, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, have battled over taxing the rich, the war in Gaza and policing the city's subways. Yet as New Yorkers head to the polls to determine the future of their city, the two men have risen to the top of a crowded field by adopting a strikingly similar posture: that of a brawler eager to take on not only President Trump but also his own party. Both candidates offer what they say is a path for Democrats out of the political wilderness, albeit in very different directions. It is an unyielding approach that taps into the deep psychological wounds of demoralized Democratic voters, who are seeking a muscular answer to Mr. Trump as he pushes to reduce the power of liberal states like California and New York. The outcome of the June 24 election — one of Democrats' first major primary fights since Mr. Trump stormed back to power — could very well set a model for ambitious Democratic candidates in the midterm elections next year and beyond. The dynamic was on colorful display Thursday night in the race's second and final debate. As other leading candidates quibbled over policy details and plans for 'Trump-proofing' the nation's largest city, Mr. Cuomo and Mr. Mamdani sharpened their critiques. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
NYC mayoral debate night: List of candidates, latest polls
The Brief With just weeks until the New York City mayoral primary, a high-stakes Democratic debate took place Thursday night, drawing increased attention to the tight race. Only seven candidates took the stage Thursday night including front runners, former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani. Thursday night's debate highlighted several hot-button issues, with rent-stabilized housing emerging as a key flashpoint. NEW YORK - With just weeks until the New York City mayoral primary, a high-stakes Democratic debate took place Thursday night, drawing increased attention to the tight race. Only seven candidates took the stage, including front-runners, former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani. Mayor Eric Adams, who is seeking reelection as an independent, will skip the June 24 primary and avoid a direct matchup with the two. Thursday night's debate highlighted several hot-button issues, with rent-stabilized housing emerging as a key flashpoint. Most candidates backed a rent freeze to address affordability and the city's housing shortage, while Andrew Cuomo and Whitney Tilson declined to support it. On immigration, nearly every contender positioned themselves as staunch defenders of New York City's sanctuary laws in response to President Trump's ongoing crackdown. SKIP TO: Republicans | Democrats | Independents| How to vote | Ranked choice explained | Polls For the first time since former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo entered the race back on March 1, one poll has him trailing. It comes as other recent polls show Cuomo roughly 10 percentage points ahead. Cuomo polls strongest with Black voters and those over 50, while Mamdani leads among younger voters, white voters, and the college-educated (Emerson/PIX11/The Hill, May 2025). New York City will use ranked-choice voting in primary and special elections for mayoral races. Here's everything to know about the 2025 Mayoral Election. SKIP TO: Republicans | Democrats | Independents| How to vote | Ranked choice explained | Why you should care: In ranked choice voting, you can rank up to 5 candidates. First Round: If a candidate gets over 50%, they win. No Majority? The lowest-ranked candidate is eliminated, and their votes go to voters' next choices. Repeat: This continues until two candidates remain, and the one with the most votes wins. Results are final only after all ballots (including absentees) are counted. For the June 27 Primary, ranked-choice voting will be used for City Council races. Here's a quick look at the key candidates vying for mayor and what they stand for. SKIP TO: Republicans | Democrats | Independents| How to vote | Ranked choice explained | Polls What they're saying: Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, 64, announced that he is running as an independent, forgoing the Democratic primary for mayor. The decision comes after a federal judge dismissed the corruption indictment against Adams, ending the first criminal case against a sitting city mayor in modern history. Adams explained that the case "dragged on too long" with "false accusations" hanging over him, and he believes the city is better served by independent leadership, not influenced by extremists on either side. Now he plans to appeal directly to all New Yorkers as an independent candidate in the general election. Jim Walden, 59, a longtime NYC lawyer, is running as an independent in the 2025 mayoral race. He is known for handling high-profile cases, including serving as special counsel to a task force created by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to investigate the state's tax incentive programs. He's also advocated for NYCHA families exposed to toxic lead. Walden has been openly critical of Mayor Adams' "City of Yes" plan, claiming it has serious flaws and doesn't address the housing crisis effectively. His campaign focuses on housing solutions and anti-corruption, with a promise to build over 50,000 new housing units every year. SKIP TO: Republicans | Democrats | Independents| How to vote | Ranked choice explained | Polls Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, 67, seems to be focusing his 2025 mayoral campaign on what he describes as a city in crisis. In his 2025 mayoral campaign ad, Cuomo positioned himself as a leader ready to address what he calls "a city in crisis." Cuomo argues that the city feels unsafe and out of control because of poor leadership, and he believes his experience makes him the right person to fix these problems and bring the city back on track. Despite stepping down as governor in 2021 amid scandal, Cuomo is seeking a political comeback, positioning himself as a solution to the city's most pressing issues. Adrienne Adams, 64, jumped in as a contender to enter the race, directly after former Cuomo. Adams, who was first elected to the City Council in a 2017 special election, is nearing the end of her term due to term limits. If elected, she would make history as the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first City Council speaker to become mayor of New York City. If she officially enters the race, Adams will likely face significant obstacles, including limited campaign resources and a recent poll showing her with only 2% support among likely Democratic voters. Despite these challenges, she says her experience sets her apart and has reportedly been urged to run by key stakeholders, including unions such as District Council 37 and 32BJ. Brad Lander, 55, is the current NYC comptroller and a progressive who advocates for police reform, affordable housing, and better management of the migrant crisis. He has criticized Adams' handling of migrant services and aims to improve workforce development for migrants. Lander has faced criticism for speeding violations despite pushing for stricter traffic laws. SKIP TO: Republicans | Democrats | Independents| How to vote | Ranked choice explained | Polls SKIP TO: Candidates | How to vote | Ranked choice State Sen. Jessica Ramos, 39, announced that she would be running for NYC mayor amid calls for Eric Adams to resign. Ramos focuses on affordable housing, tackling human trafficking, and improving city services. As the only woman in the race, Ramos connects deeply with immigrant communities and emphasizes the importance of basic services like garbage collection and school funding. She is also a strong advocate for closing the immigrant trust gap and providing better support for migrant workers. Whitney Tilson, 58, is an investor and lifelong Democrat who has emphasized the need for a city that is safe, affordable, and prosperous, criticizing career politicians for failing to address key issues. Tilson, who is not a career politician, pledges to restore common sense to City Hall and fight for real change in leadership. He believes that with working families leaving the city, New York cannot afford more of the same leadership. Zellnor Myrie, 38, is a Brooklyn native focused on affordable housing and electoral reform. Myrie is known for legislative victories on tenant protections and voting rights. As Chair of the Elections Committee, Myrie has worked on improving election processes and policies. SKIP TO: Republicans | Democrats | Independents| How to vote | Ranked choice explained | Polls Zohran Mamdani , 33, is a self-declared socialist with a focus on rent freezes, free bus rides, and no-cost childcare. He advocates for housing affordability and aims to redirect funds to public institutions like CUNY. Mamdani reportedly reached the maximum funding limit of $8 million for the June primary, making him the first candidate to do so. Mamdani is known for his activism, including leading a hunger strike alongside taxi drivers. SKIP TO: Candidates | How to vote | Ranked choice Scott Stringer, 64, former NYC comptroller, is focused on transparency and good governance. Stringer was the first mayoral candidate to qualify for public matching funds. He gained attention last mayoral cycle in the race despite sexual misconduct allegations from a former intern, which he denies. Stringer is tied for third in the most recent poll with 8 percent alongside state Sen. Jessica Ramos, State Sen. Zellnor Myrie. SKIP TO: Republicans | Democrats | Independents| How to vote | Ranked choice explained | Polls Michael Blake, 42, a former Bronx assemblyman and vice chair of the DNC, is known for his focus on economic equity and social justice. He previously ran for New York's 15th congressional district, where he lost to Ritchie Torres. Blake, a former White House aide to President Obama, also served as campaign manager for Reshma Saujani's 2013 run for New York City Public Advocate. He has focused his run committed to issues like fair wages, universal childcare, and housing equality through his work with the Atlas Strategy Group, which focuses on policy issues for communities of color. Curtis Sliwa, 67, is a longtime New York City activist and founder of the Guardian Angels, a 1970s nonprofit known for its crime-fighting efforts and signature red berets. Sliwa says he's running for mayor to "finally end the disastrous reign of de Blasio-Cuomo," with public safety and police funding at the core of his campaign. He proposes adding 4,500 uniformed officers and 500 undercover officers to patrol the subways and pledges to restore all NYPD budget cuts, according to The City. Sliwa is a Republican who does not support President Donald Trump, and has noted that he's never voted for him. SKIP TO: Republicans | Democrats | Independents| How to vote | Ranked choice explained | Polls June 14: Last day to update your address for the general election. June 24: Primary Election Day. Polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Early voting: Available from Saturday, June 14 through Sunday, June 22. Make sure your registration and address are current so you can vote without any issues. New York City will use ranked-choice voting in Primary and Special Elections for Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, and City Council. This change was approved by voters in 2019.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Edison Democratic mayor candidates share differing views on township's priorities
EDISON – Politics in Edison is always a bit complicated and this year is no exception. Voters will be choosing from three mayoral candidates in the June 10 Democratic primary in which Mayor Sam Joshi, who is completing his first four-year term in office, is being challenged by Councilman Richard Brescher and small business owner Lav Patel. Edison has a long history of electing democrats, but the winner in the Democratic primary will face Republican mayoral candidate Gloria Dittman in the November general election. Joshi has focused his campaign on the things he has gotten done during his first term in office while also promoting this year's unanimous council approval of the budget which will help maintain and upgrade town parks, courts, fitness trails, fields and splash parks, fund upgrades to the water and sewer systems, complete construction on the youth sports complex, rehabilitate the Stelton Community Center, improve the sidewalks and drainage on Amboy Avenue and continue efforts to get rid of blighted properties, according to his Facebook page. Brescher meanwhile has pointed out that the work on the Stelton Community Center has tripled in cost, flag poles rather than the promised paddle boats are at Oak Tree Pond, there are only new signs and not new playing surfaces at Polansky Park, Edison does not have a ward system or a new high school and Woodbridge Avenue has not been fixed. He said the youth complex was imagined as a $5 million project that now costs more than double, according to his Facebook page. Patel is committed to having no cannabis in town, safer neighborhoods and lower taxes, according to his Facebook page. Patel also wants to see a dedicated senior citizen center in town, manned police substations in both the northern and southern sections of the town, expanded police patrol coverage and responsible budgeting that invests in public safety. More: Grocery stores in talks to replace shuttered Stop & Shop in Edison With the elimination of county lines on the ballot, voters may have difficulty figuring out which council candidates are running together or with a mayoral candidate. None of the incumbent council members, Margot Harris, Nishith Patel and John Poyner, who ran with Joshi four years ago, are seeking reelection this year. Joshi is on the Middlesex County Democratic Organization slate with Township Council candidates Kelli Dima, Robert Kentos and Biral Patel. Campaign signs for Lav Patel, who is listed on the Empower Dems Unity slate, indicate he is running with Township Council candidates Jayesh Mehta, Yingnan "Ingrid" Chen and Anthony DeAmorin, who are all running on the Democrats for All slate, according to the sample ballot. And while initially Brescher, who is on the Residents First slate, had no Township Council running mates, campaign signs posted around town now also list his name along with Joyce Ship-Freeman, a former councilwoman who is on the Real Experience Counts ticket, and DeAmorin. DeAmorin said he's honored to get support from both Lav Patel and Brescher and he's fine to have his name on lawn signs for both mayoral candidates. He said both Patel and Brescher's campaigns are focused on the town's safety and affordability. DeAmorin maintains he's still running with Lav Patel's team but there was also interest in giving him support from Ship-Freeman and Brescher with whom he has a long-standing relationship. "We're all after the same goal of turning Edison around," DeAmorin said. The three Democratic Township Council candidates who win in the primary will face Russell Azzarello, Kartik Nath and Samiksha Sharmas in November. Email: srussell@ Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Edison mayor candidates share differing views on township's priorities
