Candidates vying for the New York City mayoral seat in 2025
The 2025 New York City mayoral race has taken an unexpected turn, with a diverse slate of candidates vying for the city's top position. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa are the key players in this highly competitive contest.
Eric Adams, who faced federal corruption charges in 2024, was later cleared after the charges were dropped by the DOJ under President Donald Trump's administration. Despite this, Adams chose to withdraw from the Democratic primary and run for re-election as an independent candidate. Adams's campaign has emphasised his image, defying challenges and low approval ratings, making him the first incumbent mayor since 1969 to seek re-election without a major party’s nomination.
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old progressive state assemblyman, emerged as the Democratic nominee in a surprising upset by defeating Cuomo handily in the June 2024 Democratic primary. Mamdani has attracted significant support from progressive politicians and has maintained leads in various polls throughout 2025, with around 41.8% support. His campaign focuses on opposing Trump’s immigration policies and addressing issues like cost of living, public safety, and housing affordability. Mamdani presents himself as a leftist candidate, providing a sharp contrast to Adams and other opponents.
Andrew Cuomo, who resigned from the governorship in 2021 due to sexual harassment allegations, is attempting a political comeback. He ran aggressively in the Democratic primary, backed by major city power brokers, and was initially projected to win. However, Mamdani defeated him in the primary. Cuomo has since launched an independent campaign for the general election, adding complexity to the race. Cuomo has called on lagging candidates to drop out to avoid splitting votes against Mamdani.
Curtis Sliwa, the Republican mayoral nominee and perennial candidate known for his strong focus on crime-fighting, ran unopposed for the GOP nomination and has refused pressures to exit the race despite limited prospects in heavily Democratic New York City.
This year's mayoral race in New York City is marked by a fracturing of traditional political affiliations. Adams, the incumbent, is running as an independent after a turbulent term. Mamdani, the youthful progressive challenger, has captured the national spotlight. Cuomo, the former governor, is making a comeback as an independent following his primary defeat. And Sliwa, the eccentric crime-fighting Republican, continues his candidacy. The stage is set for a highly unpredictable November 4, 2025 general election.
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