Politics in New York City is basically a blood sport. If you thought 2021 was a circus, the 2025 cycle was a full-blown opera, complete with federal indictments, dramatic exits, and a socialist surge that nobody—honestly, nobody—saw coming at the start. Now that the dust has settled and Zohran Mamdani is settling into Gracie Mansion as the city's first Muslim and South Asian mayor, it’s worth looking back at the NYC mayor race candidates who defined this chaotic era.
We aren't just talking about names on a ballot here. We’re talking about a fundamental shift in how the city views itself. For a while, it looked like the establishment was going to hold the line. Then, the federal government dropped a bombshell on Eric Adams, and suddenly, the "impossible" became the daily news cycle.
The Candidates Who Actually Moved the Needle
When we look at the primary and general election field, it was crowded. Like, "L-train at 8:30 AM" crowded. But only a few names really mattered when the votes started being tallied.
Zohran Mamdani: The Socialist Surge
Mamdani wasn't supposed to win. He’s a 33-year-old state assemblyman who likes to talk about "Free Buses" and "Taxing the Rich." Basically, he’s the guy the real estate lobby warns you about. But his ground game was incredible. He mobilized a literal army of volunteers—we're talking tens of thousands—and dominated the social media game.
His platform was pretty wild for NYC standards. He wanted to:
- Make all public buses free.
- Abolish the Gifted and Talented program for kids 5 and under.
- Freeze rents across the board.
In the end, he pulled $50.78%$ of the vote in the general election, totaling $1,114,184$ votes. People wanted change, and he was the personification of it.
🔗 Read more: Sherry Henry Lisa Stone: The Complicated Reality of These Legal Figures
Andrew Cuomo: The Comeback That Almost Was
You can’t keep a Cuomo down, apparently. After resigning from the governorship in 2021, Andrew Cuomo decided 2025 was his year for redemption. He ran in the Democratic primary, lost to Mamdani in the third round of ranked-choice voting ($56.4%$ to $43.6%$), and then did the most Cuomo thing ever: he stayed in the race on an independent line called the "Fight and Deliver" party.
He even got an endorsement from Donald Trump. Cuomo rejected it, obviously, but it shows how weird things got. He ended up with $906,614$ votes in the general ($41.4%$). Close, but no cigar.
Curtis Sliwa: The Red Beret Returns
Curtis Sliwa is basically a New York landmark at this point. The founder of the Guardian Angels ran as a Republican again, and while he only snagged about $7%$ of the vote ($153,749$ votes), he kept the "law and order" conversation front and center. He wanted to hire $7,000$ more cops and "civilianize" the administrative roles at the NYPD to get more boots on the ground.
What Really Happened with Eric Adams?
The elephant in the room was always the incumbent. Eric Adams was the first sitting NYC mayor to be charged with crimes while in office—specifically bribery and fraud. It was a mess. His approval rating tanked to $26%$ in late 2024.
Funny enough, the Trump administration actually dropped the charges against him in early 2025, but the damage was done. Adams tried to pivot. He left the Democratic primary and said he’d run as an independent under the "Safe & Affordable" party. But by September 2025, with poll numbers in the basement, he basically quit. He stayed on the ballot because of some deadline technicalities, but he only pulled $0.3%$ of the final vote. It was a quiet end to a very loud mayoralty.
The "Almost" Candidates: Lander, Stringer, and Ramos
The Democratic primary was where the real drama lived. Brad Lander, the City Comptroller, was a huge favorite for the "intellectual progressive" crowd. He had a massive housing plan to build $500,000$ new units. But when he saw the writing on the wall, he did something smart: he cross-endorsed Mamdani. That move basically handed Mamdani the win.
Jessica Ramos had a stranger path. She started as a labor-backed progressive, but then she shocked everyone by endorsing Andrew Cuomo in June. Her supporters were livid. Organizations like the Working Families Party and groups like the UAW rescinded their endorsements immediately. She ended up with less than $5,000$ votes in the primary. Kinda a cautionary tale about political pivoting.
Scott Stringer also tried for a comeback, leaning on his financial expertise. He wanted a "QualitySTAT" system to manage city agencies. He’s got the experience, but the voters just weren't feeling the "old guard" vibe this time around.
The Issues That Decided Everything
Honestly, it came down to the "Three H's": Housing, Hunger (affordability), and... History.
- Affordability: The city is too expensive. Period. Mamdani’s message of "The City for All" resonated because people are tired of $4,000$ studio apartments.
- Public Safety: While Sliwa focused on cops, Mamdani talked about "Community Safety" and mental health outreach in subways. New Yorkers are split on this, but the "mental health first" approach won out.
- Corruption: After the Adams saga, voters were desperate for someone who felt "clean." Whether Mamdani stays that way is the $110$ billion dollar question.
How the 2025 Election Shook Out
If you're a numbers person, the final results tell a story of a city divided between a young, progressive base and a more moderate, older contingent that still trusts names like Cuomo.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zohran Mamdani | Democratic/WFP | 1,114,184 | 50.78% |
| Andrew Cuomo | Independent | 906,614 | 41.32% |
| Curtis Sliwa | Republican | 153,749 | 7.01% |
| Eric Adams | Independent | 6,897 | 0.31% |
Total turnout was about $43.47%$. That sounds low, but for NYC, it was actually the highest turnout since 1993. Young people actually showed up. That’s why Mamdani is in office right now.
What Most People Get Wrong About the NYC Mayor Race
People think New York is a monolith of liberal thought. It’s not. It’s a collection of villages. The reason Cuomo did so well as an independent is that there is a massive chunk of the city—especially in the outer boroughs—that thinks the "progressive" wing has gone too far.
Mamdani’s challenge now is proving he can actually manage a bureaucracy of over $300,000$ employees. Winning an election is a sprint; governing New York is a marathon through a minefield.
Actionable Next Steps for New Yorkers
The election is over, but the work isn't. If you want to stay involved in how the city is changing under this new administration, here’s what you should actually do:
- Track the "Free Bus" Pilot: Keep an eye on the MTA's expansion of fare-free routes. If you live in an area where this is happening, use it and report issues to your local community board.
- Attend Community Board Meetings: This is where the housing "City of Yes" or Mamdani's new housing policies will actually be fought. Most of these are on Zoom now, so there's no excuse.
- Watch the 2026 Congressional Races: Brad Lander is already gearing up to challenge Dan Goldman in the 10th District. The progressive vs. moderate fight is just moving to a different stage.
- Monitor the Budget: New York’s budget is a black hole. Check the Comptroller's website (now under a new administration soon) to see if the "Community Safety" funds are actually going to mental health workers or just disappearing into the void.
The 2025 race was a fever dream, but the reality of a Mamdani mayoralty is just beginning. Whether you’re thrilled or terrified, you've got to pay attention. This city doesn't stay still for long.