ROBIN WEAVER KLINGENSTEIN: Mamdani Race Too Critical To Ignore

In almost every recent election we are told, “This is the most important election in our lifetime.” But the November 4, 2025, New York City mayoral race may really be the most important.

Zohran Mamdani, age 33, won the June Democrat mayoral primary upsetting the favorite, the more experienced former New York governor, Andrew Cuomo.

Mamdani has promised a socialist agenda of rent freezes, free bus rides, higher taxes, and city-run grocery stores. As Gerard Baker wrote in the Wall Street Journal, Mamdani speaks to “culturally brainwashed and financially disenchanted young … They will, however, find out, says Baker, that their expensive educations haven’t been the ticket to the self-advancement that they had hoped.”

But Mamdani has vulnerabilities, in particular, his calls to defund the police, and his veiled support for an intifada. Despite attempts to backtrack voters should realize that what he’s said in the past is a good indication of where he stands today.

Despite his vulnerabilities, a recent poll conducted by The AARP New York-Gotham & Analytics poll shows Mamdani at 41.8%, Cuomo (running as an Independent) at 23.4 %, Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee, at 16.5 %, and current New York City mayor Eric Adams, in single digits.

Each candidate has his supporters. Cuomo supporters argue that Cuomo has more managerial and leadership experience than the others. Supporters of Mayor Adams argue that he has recently surrounded himself with good people, notably Police Superintendent Jessica Tisch and First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro. And, while not widely known, Adams has improved housing availability for many New Yorkers.

Curtis Sliwa has particularly strong appeal in the outer boroughs and neighborhoods where crime and public safety are front and center. The demographics go against him, however, in a city where only 11% of registered voters are Republican.