NYC mayoral candidates Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa make their final pitch to voters ahead of Election Day
Election Day in New York City is just one day away, with Democrat Zohran Mamdani polling as the frontrunner against independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
A new Atlas Intel poll has Mamdani ahead of Cuomo 43.9% to 39.4%, with Sliwa pulling 15.5%. That 4.5% gap between Mamdani and Cuomo is far narrower than the more-than-10-point lead Mamdani had in three polls just last week.
The poll of over 2,000 voters had a margin of error of 2%. It showed voters moving away from Sliwa, whose support has fallen by a little more than 8 points. It's not all going to one candidate, however. Cuomo and Mamdani are splitting up the pie, with Mamdani picking up 3 points in the poll, and Cuomo nearly 5.
President Trump says New Yorkers "must vote" for Cuomo
President Trump took to social media Monday night to urge New Yorkers to vote for Andrew Cuomo.
He said Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, was a "communist," and again threatened to withhold federal money from the city should he win.
"I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE," Trump wrote. "We must also remember this — A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani. Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job."
Views on Israel a possible factor in changing poll numbers
The new poll numbers may have something to do with where the candidates stand on Israel. The poll found:
- 39.9% said they wanted a mayor with no preconceived position on Israel
- 30.6% want a pro-Israel mayor
- 19.8% want a mayor who openly opposes Israel
Cuomo and Sliwa have both made much of Mamdani's refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Early voting sets records
Thousands of New Yorkers took part in early voting this year. According to the City Board of Elections, there were more than 735,000 early voting check-ins, compared to just under 170,000 in the 2021 mayoral election.
The Board of Elections also said this past Sunday had the highest number of early voters since it started in 2019.
Turnout will be everything on Election Day. Mamdani has 100,000 volunteers urging voters to support him.
"You feel the energy," Cuomo says
"You need to know how the government works to actually make change, and Mamdani has never had a real job," Cuomo said Monday. "Your first job should not be mayor of the city of New York with 8.5 million people."
As Cuomo supporters rallied in the Bronx, he made the radio rounds, referencing the early voting numbers that shattered 2021 records.
"It tells you people are concerned, people are worried," he said.
Cuomo then went to Washington Heights, where he was joined by supporters.
"I think there's going to be a surprise. You know what they call an October surprise? There's going to be a November surprise," Rev. Ruben Diaz, Sr. said at the event.
Cuomo said he sees a path to victory, citing turnout in early voting, and polls which have shown him closing the gap with Mamdani.
"You're out here on the streets. You feel the energy. You see the turnout," Cuomo said.
Mamdani didn't see it that way.
Mamdani holds sunrise rally at City Hall
"We stand on the verge of ushering in a new day for our city," Mamdani said.
As the sun rose over City Hall on Monday, Mamdani delivered a nod to the city's working class, whose members often work odd hours trying to make ends meet. He marched across the Brooklyn Bridge with supporters at sunrise.
"When I am mayor, I don't want City Hall to only be a beacon of light once the sun has risen and illuminated it from the exterior. I want to make city government a light of its own that people across this city feel at all hours of the day," said Mamdani. "Let them feel the light of City Hall when their late-night bus home is faster and freer and safer, too."
Mamdani also tried to tie Cuomo to Mr. Trump, who appeared on "60 Minutes" and sent a message to New York Republicans trying to decide whether to vote for Sliwa, who's in third place, or someone else.
"I'm not a fan of Cuomo … but if it's going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist, I'm going to pick the bad Democrat all the time," Mr. Trump said.
"The answer to a Donald Trump presidency is not to create its mirror image here in City Hall," Mamdani said.
Sliwa says he's the clear safety choice
Meanwhile, Sliwa said Cuomo's experience is his liability.
"He has the same democratic principals that have destroyed the state of New York, the way [Gov. Gavin] Newsom has destroyed the state of California," Sliwa said.
Speaking at a Coney Island subway stop, Sliwa said his record on safety is better than both of his opponents.
"I think even my adversaries would understand that they cannot compare their experience on the subways with me, who's in the subways every day, and where the Guardian Angels have been patrolling for over 46 years," he said.
Sliwa was trying to convince fellow Republicans not to abandon him, even though he's trailing the other candidates.
"My local Republicans, some, not all, have the Rodney Dangerfield syndrome. They don't get respect. They've lost confidence. They don't think they can win elections. Well, clearly, we're a party of principles, and they've forgotten that," Sliwa said.
