With less than two months until New York City’s mayoral election, the race has become a high-stakes contest drawing national attention, fierce intra-party debate, and even direct meddling from former President Donald Trump. At the heart of the contest is Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman and self-described democratic socialist, who has surged to a commanding lead in a series of recent polls, leaving established figures like former Governor Andrew Cuomo, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, and Republican Curtis Sliwa scrambling to catch up.
On September 11, 2025, the city’s political landscape was further shaken when a judge rejected Jim Walden’s request to have his name removed from the November ballot, ruling that the court lacked the authority to do so, according to WABC. Walden, who had campaigned vigorously, posted on X, “I gave it my all but lost.” His departure, though involuntary, does little to alter a race already defined by its polarized choices and the outsized influence of national politics.
The four main candidates—Mamdani, Cuomo, Adams, and Sliwa—set aside their differences briefly to attend the 9/11 remembrance ceremony, paying respects to victims of the terror attacks. Yet, the unity was short-lived, as all quickly returned to the campaign trail and the heated rhetoric that has defined this race. The recent shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University prompted each candidate to issue strong condemnations of political violence. Mayor Adams declared, “Political violence has no place in this country, ever. Those who encourage it are enemies of America and must be condemned by every American. Enough is enough.” Cuomo echoed the sentiment, calling the news “disturbing” and emphasizing that violence is “becoming too common, and too often celebrated.” Mamdani stated, “I’m horrified by the shooting of Charlie Kirk at a college event in Utah. Political violence has no place in our country.” Sliwa, who himself survived a shooting, reflected on the pain and uncertainty of recovery and urged, “We need to pray that no one of any political background is targeted by this again. We must do better.”
Against this backdrop, Mamdani’s rise has been meteoric. According to a Quinnipiac University poll released on September 11, he leads with 45% support among likely voters, trailed by Cuomo at 23%, Sliwa at 15%, and Adams at 12%. Two other polls released the same day reinforced the trend: The Siena and The New York Times survey gave Mamdani 46% support, Cuomo 24%, Sliwa 15%, and Adams 9%. An Emerson College/PIX 11/The Hill poll showed Mamdani at 43%, Cuomo at 28%, Sliwa at 10%, and Adams at just 7%. Even in hypothetical two-way matchups, Mamdani maintains a lead, suggesting his support is both broad and resilient.
PIX11’s Henry Rosoff discussed the implications of these numbers, noting that Mamdani’s 15-point lead over Cuomo represents a major shift in the city’s political dynamics. The polls, according to Rosoff, are adding pressure on the trailing candidates—especially Sliwa and Adams, who appeal to distinct but shrinking bases. Sliwa remains the standard-bearer for the city’s Republicans, while Adams, now running as an independent, draws on a fractured Democratic electorate wary of the party’s leftward shift.
That leftward tilt is precisely what has Mamdani’s opponents, and some within his own party, on edge. Both Cuomo and Adams are seen as representatives of the right wing of the Democratic Party, with established ties to business interests and labor unions. These groups, as reported by teleSUR English, are deeply skeptical of Mamdani’s social democratic proposals, which include ambitious cost-of-living reforms and a promise to “fight back” against what he calls the harmful legacy of Trump-era policies. Mamdani himself has not shied away from the attacks, tweeting, “We’ve seen what collaboration with Trump has brought us: money stolen from city accounts, cuts to essential services, New Yorkers as young as six deported. Cuomo offers more of the same. I am prepared to fight back.”
Trump, for his part, has made no secret of his opposition to Mamdani, dismissing him as a “lunatic” and mocking his appearance. Yet, as some media outlets have noted, there is a curious undercurrent among parts of the Republican base: a belief that a Mamdani victory would so thoroughly brand the Democratic Party as “hijacked by left-wing extremism” that it could damage Democrats in the 2026 midterms. Reports surfaced last week that Trump allies even offered Adams and Sliwa senior positions if they agreed to drop out and boost Cuomo’s chances—a move both men refused to confirm or deny.
Within the Democratic Party, Mamdani’s campaign has become a litmus test for unity. In the week leading up to September 11, he received endorsements from leading progressives such as Representatives Jamie Raskin and Pat Ryan, as well as Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jerrold Nadler. Raskin, in an interview, praised Mamdani as a “significant and inspiring leader,” comparing his politics to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s and noting, “He really wants to rebuild an F.D.R. coalition that is fundamentally committed to the success of the working and middle classes in his city.”
However, prominent moderates have been slow to rally behind Mamdani. Notable holdouts include Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Governor Kathy Hochul. Hochul, for instance, described herself as a “staunch capitalist” and stressed the need for pragmatic governance in “the financial center of the world.” Schumer met with Mamdani but declined to endorse him, while Jeffries hinted a decision was forthcoming, citing concerns about Mamdani’s past rhetoric.
Other moderates, like Representatives Laura Gillen and Tom Suozzi, have openly distanced themselves, warning that Mamdani’s candidacy could embolden Republican attacks and hurt the party in competitive districts. Gillen remarked, “I believe the future of our party is that we need to lead from the middle because that’s where the majority of Americans are. I’m certainly not endorsing him.”
Despite the establishment’s hesitation, Mamdani has worked to broaden his appeal, meeting privately with figures like Rahm Emanuel and Ritchie Torres, who have praised his intellect and policy knowledge. Emanuel, reflecting on their conversation, said, “This guy is thinking about how to hit the ground running and he showed the full capacity to do that from his questions.” Even Torres, a strong supporter of Israel and a moderate by reputation, described Mamdani as “as impressive as any person I’ve ever met in politics.”
Meanwhile, Republicans have seized on Mamdani’s candidacy as a rallying point, with Governor Ron DeSantis vowing to “defend people against a communist mayor out of state.” Yet, for Mamdani’s supporters, the stakes are clear: unity against Trump’s interference and a chance to reshape the city’s future. As Raskin put it, “When moderates beat progressives, we want the progressives to support the moderates in the general election. And when progressives beat moderates in the primary, we want the moderates to support the progressives in the general election.”
With polls showing Mamdani’s support holding strong—especially among young voters, a group that drifted toward Trump in 2024—the November election is shaping up to be a defining moment for both New York City and the Democratic Party nationwide. Every faction, from the establishment to the insurgent left, now faces a choice: close ranks, or risk ceding the city’s future to its rivals.
