Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
With only days remaining before New York City’s mayoral election on Tuesday, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim American legislator from Queens is leading in the polls ahead of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The closely watched race has captivated both national and international audiences, unfolding against the backdrop of heated debates over crime, the cost of living, and the city’s fraught relationship with Washington.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll conducted between October 23 and 27 showed Mamdani ahead with 43% of voter support, followed by Cuomo at 33%, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at 14%. Sliwa, 71, is a well-known media personality and founder of the volunteer safety group “Guardian Angels,” and is as famous for his trademark red beret as for his fondness for cats.
Mamdani’s rise has stirred passionate reactions across New York’s political spectrum. President Donald Trump recently branded the progressive lawmaker a “communist,” intensifying the polarization surrounding the race. Trump has also threatened to withhold federal funding from the city if Mamdani wins, a point that has become a recurring theme in the campaign’s final days.
A Divisive Race in a Divided City
New York, a city already marked by stark political divisions, has seen its campaign season dominated by discussions of public safety and economic inequality. “Zohran Mamdani represents a generational and ideological shift,” said Lincoln Mitchell, a political science professor at Columbia University. “He embodies the mood of the moment. In today’s political climate, any outspoken critic of Trump in America’s largest city is bound to attract global attention. The fact that he is Muslim makes this race even more historically significant.”
Mamdani, 34, has faced Islamophobic attacks and smear campaigns from both Republicans and centrist Democrats. In response, he has accused his rivals of exploiting “anti-Muslim sentiment that has become far too normalized in our city.”
Grassroots Momentum and Youth Energy
The son of Ugandan immigrants of South Asian descent, Mamdani has built his campaign on grassroots mobilization. His team reports that more than 90,000 volunteers, many of them young first-time activists—have participated in door-to-door outreach and community events.
“When I think of Zohran, I think of what Bernie Sanders meant to so many Americans in 2016 and 2020,” said 15-year-old campaign volunteer Abid Mehdi from Queens. “He’s our Bernie Sanders.”
Mamdani appeared alongside Senator Bernie Sanders at a packed rally in Queens on October 26, underscoring the progressive movement’s growing influence in New York City politics. Despite heavy rain over the weekend that slowed down campaign activities, Mamdani continued reaching out to older voters, visiting senior centers in Brooklyn for informal “paint and talk” sessions.
Establishment Pushback and Policy Disputes
The candidate’s left-wing economic proposals especially his plan to introduce a 2% income tax on New Yorkers earning over $1 million annually, have drawn criticism from moderate Democrats, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Speaking at an October 26 campaign event for Mamdani, Hochul’s remarks were nearly drowned out by chants of “Tax the rich!” from enthusiastic supporters.
Cuomo, 67, who is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, has sought to regain momentum by courting Black and Muslim voters. On Thursday, he campaigned in Harlem alongside current Mayor Eric Adams, who recently dropped out of the race amid a corruption probe and endorsed his former rival.
Meanwhile, Republican candidate Sliwa released an unusual conservative rap video in the campaign’s final stretch, seeking to energize right-leaning voters.
Record Early Turnout and Media Controversy
According to the New York City Board of Elections, more than 275,000 registered Democrats, 46,000 Republicans, and over 42,000 unaffiliated voters cast their ballots during the first five days of early voting, which ends on November 2.
The race has also been marked by media controversy. A British newspaper recently published what it claimed was an interview with former mayor Bill de Blasio, a Mamdani supporter, in which he appeared to question the viability of progressive economic policies. The article was later retracted after de Blasio denied ever speaking with the reporter.
A Historic Moment for New York
If elected, Mamdani would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor and one of the most progressive leaders ever to hold the post. His campaign has come to symbolize a generational and ideological rift within the Democratic Party, between its younger, activist-driven left and its centrist establishment.
“This is more than a local election,” said Professor Mitchell. “It’s a referendum on what kind of city and country Americans want to live in after Trump.”
As New Yorkers prepare to head to the polls, the outcome may well shape not just the future of the city, but the direction of the Democratic Party itself.
