The race for New York City’s next mayor has always been a political spectacle, but the 2025 contest has taken on a level of drama and unpredictability that has even seasoned observers shaking their heads. With the city’s future at stake, the campaign has drawn national attention, not only for the high-profile names involved but also for the bare-knuckled tactics and ideological battles playing out in full public view.
At the center of it all is Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman and self-described Democratic socialist. After clinching the Democratic nomination in a crowded primary, Mamdani has emerged as the clear frontrunner in a race that has become a litmus test for the progressive movement in America. According to Al Jazeera, Mamdani’s campaign has tapped into a wellspring of frustration over income inequality, housing costs, and the influence of big business, resonating with thousands of working- and middle-class supporters across the city.
The spotlight on Mamdani was never brighter than on September 6, when Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders brought his “Fighting the Oligarchy Tour” to Brooklyn College for a joint town hall with the candidate. The event drew a crowd of 1,700, underscoring the national significance of the contest. Sanders, whose tour has reached 21 states and more than 300,000 people, described the moment as pivotal. "Politics can be powered by ordinary people," Mamdani told the packed auditorium, echoing Sanders’ message that the status quo can be upended by grassroots energy.
Mamdani’s platform is bold and unapologetically left-wing. He has called for defunding the police, legalizing prostitution, decriminalizing misdemeanors, imposing significant tax hikes on high earners, freezing rents on privately owned apartments, and establishing a city-run supermarket in each borough. He’s also proposed free childcare for children aged six weeks to five years—a policy that struck a chord at the town hall, where a working mother revealed she spends $36,000 a year on childcare. "We have to feel the depth of the statistics we have grown numb to," Mamdani responded when asked about his plan, according to Al Jazeera.
But these positions have made Mamdani a lightning rod for criticism from both moderate Democrats and Republicans. President Donald Trump, never one to mince words, has labeled Mamdani a "communist lunatic and a threat to New York City," as reported by the New York Post. Trump’s involvement in the race has been unusually direct, with the president openly strategizing to engineer a one-on-one showdown between Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, whom he sees as the only viable challenger. "If it’s not one-on-one, it’s going to be a hard race," Trump said, arguing that only a consolidated anti-Mamdani vote could prevent the assemblyman’s victory.
Polls from early September 2025 back up Trump’s analysis. Mamdani leads with around 37%, Cuomo trails at 25%, Republican Curtis Sliwa holds 17%, and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams lags at 11%. The anti-Mamdani vote is split, making it likely that Mamdani could win with a mere plurality. Trump’s solution? Persuade Adams and Sliwa to drop out, potentially by offering Adams a plum federal appointment—possibly as ambassador to Saudi Arabia, a move that would require Senate confirmation and is complicated by Adams’ history of federal indictment on campaign violations.
The intrigue deepened in the first week of September, as rumors swirled about Adams’ future. According to the New York Post, Adams was reportedly considering stepping aside for a federal post, with Trump administration officials said to be involved in the discussions. Adams himself has sent mixed signals: on September 5, his office released a statement declaring, "Serving New Yorkers as their mayor is the only job I’ve ever wanted... and I remain the best person to lead this city forward." Yet, he also added, "While I will always listen if called to serve our country, no formal offers have been made. I am still running for reelection, and my full focus is on the safety and quality of life of every New Yorker." Later that day, he promised an "important announcement" about the future of his campaign, fueling speculation that he might withdraw. But when the moment arrived, Adams lashed out at both Cuomo and Mamdani, calling them "spoiled brats born with silver spoons in their mouths," and insisted, "I am the only one who can beat Mamdani." He refused to take questions, leaving the press and public as confused as ever about his true intentions.
If Adams were to resign before the election, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams—who, according to the New York Post, is nearly as radical as Mamdani—would serve as acting mayor. That possibility adds another layer of unpredictability to an already chaotic race. Meanwhile, Trump’s offer to Adams, whether real or rumored, is fraught with complications: any ambassadorial nomination would face tough Senate scrutiny, especially given Adams’ legal baggage.
As for the other candidates, Curtis Sliwa remains in the race, though he trails badly in the polls. Former Governor Cuomo, who lost the Democratic primary to Mamdani under ranked-choice voting, is hoping that a head-to-head matchup could turn the tide. "Cuomo might have a chance of winning" if the field is cleared, Trump claimed, but the path to such a scenario is anything but straightforward.
National Democrats are also deeply divided over Mamdani’s candidacy. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Governor Kathy Hochul, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have all refused to endorse him. Their reluctance has drawn sharp criticism from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who told NY1, "We have a Democratic nominee. Are we a party who rallies behind our nominee or not?... We use our primary to settle our differences, and once we have a nominee we rally behind that nominee." Ocasio-Cortez sees the lack of unity as a betrayal of the party’s democratic process, while others worry that a Mamdani victory could hand Republicans a potent talking point in next year’s congressional and gubernatorial races.
For his part, Mamdani has remained defiant in the face of attacks from both the right and the center. "This is a city where we will choose our own mayor," he declared, brushing off both Trump’s barbs and efforts by business leaders like Bill Ackman to back a more centrist alternative. Mamdani has also reached out to the business community—meeting with the Partnership for New York City in July—but has not backed away from his core message. "New York City is not for sale," he said at the Brooklyn College event, referencing DoorDash’s $1 million effort to defeat his campaign.
The stakes of the mayoral race extend far beyond the five boroughs. As Sanders told supporters, "What they are afraid of is Mamdani becoming an example of what could happen all over the US." Progressive candidates are mounting similar challenges in cities from Minneapolis to Albuquerque to Seattle, focusing on issues like affordable housing and worker protections. But the backlash is fierce, with Trump and his allies warning of dire consequences if the far left gains ground in America’s urban centers.
With the election just weeks away and the field still unsettled, New Yorkers—and the nation—are watching to see whether the city will embrace Mamdani’s vision or recoil from it. The outcome will not only determine the direction of New York but could also shape the future of progressive politics across the country.
