Polling stations across New York City began operations at 6:00 a.m. today for Election Day 2025, with voting continuing until 9:00 p.m. in a mayoral contest carrying implications for state and national politics. The race to lead America's largest city features Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa as candidates.
Exceptionally high voter participation is anticipated, making advance planning critical as polling locations could experience crowding throughout the day, according to CBS New York. The City Board of Elections confirmed that 735,317 New York City residents cast ballots during the Oct. 25 through Nov. 2 early voting period, CBS New York reported. This represents more than four times the 169,879 who voted early in the 2021 mayoral election.
President Donald Trump delivered his strongest endorsement yet for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo on the eve of New York City's mayoral election, telling voters they must select the former Democratic executive over opponent Mamdani. CNN reported Monday that Trump wrote on Truth Social that "Whether you personally like Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job," describing Cuomo as possessing a "Record of Success" who "is capable of it" while declaring Democratic nominee Mamdani "is not!"
Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo. I know how hard you worked for this. https://t.co/qePAGqDk0K pic.twitter.com/6CKqyZE6ne
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 3, 2025
The president's backing presents complicated dynamics that could aid Cuomo among Republicans while potentially damaging his Democratic support in the heavily blue city. Mamdani, who upset Cuomo in June's Democratic primary, has consistently linked the former governor to Trump and positioned himself as willing to challenge powerful interests. Cuomo rejected the characterization Monday, saying, "He's not endorsing me. He's opposing Mamdani." Trump, a Queens native, has maintained criticism of the 34-year-old democratic socialist, inaccurately labeling him communist, and renewed promises to withhold federal funding except "other than the very minimum as required" should Mamdani win Tuesday.
Mamdani responded Monday night on CNN's "OutFront" by asserting Trump views his campaign as threatening, stating that "Like his (campaign), we've diagnosed the crisis in working-class New Yorkers' lives, the cost of living. But unlike him, we're actually going to deliver on that. And that is a contrast that he can't bear to see." Earlier at a Queens canvas event, Mamdani declared that "The MAGA movement's embrace of Andrew Cuomo is reflective of Donald Trump's understanding that this would be the best mayor for him. Not the best mayor for New York City, not the best mayor for New Yorkers, but the best mayor for Donald Trump and his administration," CNN reported. Trump previously provided lukewarm support for Cuomo, telling CBS' "60 Minutes" Sunday that "I'm not a fan of Cuomo one way or another, but if it's going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist, I'm going to pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you."
In the latest development, President Donald Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social on Tuesday evening, writing: "Any Jewish person that votes for Zohran Mamdani, a proven and self professed JEW HATER, is a stupid person!!!"
Earlier, the president discouraged support for Republican Curtis Sliwa without explicitly demanding withdrawal, writing that "A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani," according to CNN. Mamdani rapidly capitalized on Trump's "60 Minutes" remarks, posting congratulations to Cuomo on X Sunday with "I know how hard you worked for this." Polling consistently shows Mamdani with a double-digit lead over Cuomo, with Sliwa third, though most surveys indicate Mamdani has not secured majority support, CNN reported. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a Trump ally, also backed Cuomo Monday, writing on X that "Bear in mind that a vote for Curtis is really a vote for Mumdumi or whatever his name is."
Cuomo and Trump share extensive history from Cuomo's gubernatorial tenure before his 2021 resignation amid sexual harassment allegations he contests, clashing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with competing press briefings, CNN reported. The former governor has framed his Trump interactions as advantageous for New York City, contending Mamdani lacks experience to manage presidential relations. During one debate, Mamdani stated "You will hear from Andrew Cuomo about his experience as if the issue is that we don't know about it," adding that "The issue is that we have all experienced your experience," according to CNN.
Trump – conducting Monday night telerallies for Virginia and New Jersey audiences – directed social media attention toward the Empire State, attacking Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who campaigned alongside Mamdani over the weekend, CNN reported. The president accused Hochul of "killing the entire region with Energy Prices that are OUT OF CONTROL" and stated he would instruct Transportation Secretary Dean Duffy "to take a good, long look at terminating New York City Congestion Pricing."
The 15-hour voting window closes at 9:00 p.m., but anyone queued by that deadline remains eligible to vote, CBS New York noted. Ballots submitted by people still waiting when polls officially shut remain valid.
Result announcements should commence once the 9:00 p.m. deadline passes, with initial returns typically reflecting early voting totals, according to CBS New York. During June's Democratic primary, early voting results reached the public almost immediately at 9:00 p.m., suggesting similar timing tonight.
However, declaring a winner could require hours or potentially days if the race proves close, CBS New York reported. The City Board of Elections will release results in batches as counting progresses.
Historical precedent from 2021 shows Eric Adams secured the mayoral race declaration less than 20 minutes after polls closed, according to CBS New York. Whether tonight's contest follows that pattern or extends longer depends on margin size and vote vote-counting speed.
