By Mikayla Gleeson

The 2025 New York City mayoral election has quickly become a hot topic given the current political climate in the United States. The incumbent nominee Eric Adams withdrew his candidacy, making the remaining competitors are Zohran Mamdani (Democratic candidate) Andrew Cuomo (independent candidate) and Curtis Sliwa (Republican candidate). According to a Quinnipiac University poll report, Mamdani has received 43% support of likely voters, with Cuomo trailing at 33% support and Sliwa at 15% support. Mamdani has maintained a lead on the other candidates, even after Adams’ withdrawal when Cuomo received a support boost as a result of various endorsements. 

At the latest mayoral debate, the candidates talked about the most pressing matters to the New Yorkers: public safety, housing, and jobs. Among other things, Mamdani suggested the improvement of neighborhood safety by getting neighbors involved in the community, extending the rights of tenants, and dedicating money available to low-income housing. Cuomo leveraged his experience as governor, and committed to very active and supportive leadership in both crime reduction and economic opportunities. Sliwa primarily addressed the scenario of law and order, promising to dispatch more officers and also to tackle the “safety crisis” that he claims the city is experiencing. 

Cuomo broadly attacked Mamdani for his perceived lack of experience, saying that “My main opponent has no new ideas, he’s got no new plans… He’s never run anything, managed anything; he’s never had a real job.” Mamdani shot back, bringing up Cuomo’s record during the Covid-19 pandemic and saying “What I don't have in experience, I make up for in integrity. And what Andrew Cuomo lacks in integrity, he could never make up for with experience.” Sliwa attacked both candidates, offering plenty of creative jabs. “Zohran, your résumé could fit on a cocktail napkin. And, Andrew, your failures could fill a public school library in New York City,” Sliwa said. 

A moderator concluded the debate by stating, “New York City’s economic future will be on the ballot in 2025,” emphasizing the importance of the November 4th results. 

The future, in a way, is determined by the decision of the electorate, and whoever is to become the mayor will have to deal with big problems impacting the lives of millions of the city’s population. NYC is still on the road to recovery from the tidal wave of the pandemic’s economic devastation, while on the other hand the housing market is driving people out of the city and citizens’ concern about safety is still top of the list. Smaller city entrepreneurs are working very hard to keep their businesses alive, and the working-class families are continually being forced to choose between the basic necessities. While all of the candidates promise a safer, affordable New York, they all possess different approaches to the issues of the city. 

Mamdani has expressed clear intentions to provide citywide rent stabilizations to encourage movement into the city and provide opportunities for future generations. Additionally, he plans to lower public transportation fares or remove them altogether. He emphasizes affordability, an appealing factor to many residents of New York City given record inflation levels in New York City as a result of national inflation. Regarding crime, he wants to create a “Department of Community Safety” to invest in mental health services and crisis response to minimize crime rates. For more information on Zohran Mandani’s campaign, visit his website: zohranfornyc.com. 

Cuomo continuously highlights his intentions to increase NYPD coverage throughout the city of New York. He also mentions his value for education and how he intends to better the NYC schools system by decreasing class sizes and strengthening school communities. Finally, he discusses the subject of housing. A few of his policies include the utilization of publicly owned city land to create new, Race for the City Mikayla Gleeson affordable housing units, and he wants to expand healthcare access. For more information on Andrew Cuomo’s campaign, visit his website: andrewcuomo.com. 

Sliwa has goals geared towards New York’s public safety. He wishes to expand the coverage of the NYPD and to recruit more officers to join the force. He also aims to support programs that provide aid when it is needed, not necessarily when it is profitable. He wishes to address the city’s issues relating to public safety, crime, economic failure, and homelessness through the use of the NYPD, affordable housing plans, and his experience as a founder of the guardian angels. For more information on Curtis Silwa’s campaign, visit his website: sliwafornyc.com. 

Voters across all five boroughs hit the polls on Tuesday November 4, and by now, the winner should be clear. New York City now enters a new age, shaped for better or worse by either Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, or Curtis Sliwa.