How ranked choice voting works: A guide ahead of New York City's primary

When New Yorkers fill out ballots in Tuesday's mayoral primary, they'll be able to choose more than just one candidate. They can pick a second choice. And a third. And a fourth. And a fifth.
It's part of a process called ranked choice voting, a system that lets voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than pick just one.
Supporters of the system say ranked choice voting builds consensus, promotes positive campaigning and lets voters express a fuller range of opinions. Opponents argue it's overly complicated and can lead to ballots' being thrown out.
Here's what you need to know about ranked choice voting.
Ranked choice voting is a method of voting in which people rank candidates in order of preference. The number of candidates voters can rank depends on the specific rules in an area. In New York City, voters can rank up to five in one race.
Voters don't have to fill their ballots, though. A voter whose heart is set on only one candidate can just pick one. But if that candidate doesn't get the most votes, that voter won't have a say in later rounds of counting.
After the votes are tabulated, the last-place candidate is eliminated. Ballots from voters who supported that candidate then have the next choice counted. If no candidate has hit 50%, then counting continues, eliminating another last-place candidate and counting the next-ranked choices on all those ballots in the next round.
The process continues until a candidate reaches majority support and wins.
It depends on where the election is. In Maine, for example, the ranked choice tabulation in one of the state's congressional districts was conducted on Nov. 15 last year, 10 days after Election Day.
In New York City, the Board of Elections will post unofficial results from the first round of votes on election night.
Preliminary elimination rounds will be tabulated a week later, and officials will post an unofficial report, according to the elections board. The results could still change as mail and affidavit ballots are processed.
It can take longer to project winners in ranked choice votes, because election authorities need to have every ballot counted before they know in what order to eliminate last-place finishers. And as we know from recent elections, it can take some time to process and count mail-in ballots, provisional votes and others.
Supporters argue that ranked choice voting strengthens democracy by promoting positive campaigning and coalition-building, since people choose more than one candidate.
Advocates also say the system encourages politicians to find middle ground, which could help reduce the number of lawmakers on the ideological fringe.
'With RCV, candidates run more positive campaigns — or even 'cross-endorse' one another. Instead of worrying about 'wasting' their vote or picking the lesser of two evils, voters can rank their honest preferences. RCV rewards candidates who can build a majority coalition,' Deb Otis, the director of research and policy for the election reform group FairVote, said in a statement.
In New York, mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani, for example, has announced cross-endorsements with fellow contenders Michael Blake and Brad Lander in an effort to consolidate support.
The system is also called instant runoff voting, since it replaces the need for separately scheduled runoffs for winners to get majority support, because votes are counted until a candidate has majority support. New York City spent about $13 million in 2013 for a runoff that drew a turnout rate of 6%, which drew calls to switch to ranked choice voting.
Supporters also point out that ranked choice voting eliminates candidates' winning with extremely low percentages in crowded primaries. For example, Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., won her primary in 2020 with 19% of the vote before she easily won the general election. Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., won an open primary in 2022 with 28% before he likewise enjoyed an easy general election in a safe district.
'New Yorkers adopted ranked choice voting because they wanted a change from primaries where candidates could win with just 20% of the vote. Now, thanks to RCV, voters have more choice and more voice in who represents them,' Susan Lerner, the executive director of Common Cause New York, said in a statement.
Opponents argue that the system confuses voters and leads to ballots' being thrown out.
Critics also say ranked choice voting lengthens the voting process because voters have to take the time to research all of the candidates. In New York City's case, that includes 11 mayoral candidates on the Democratic side.
New York's 2021 mayor's race was also marred by initial controversy after 135,000 test ballots were accidentally included in one version of the announced election returns as the city used ranked choice voting for the first time.
'Ranked choice voting is like putting your ballot in a paper shredder and hoping democracy miraculously reassembles itself inside the black box of tabulation,' said Madeline Malisa, a senior fellow at the conservative Foundation for Government Accountability.
'The reality is ranked choice voting has been a disaster of delayed results, errors, confusion and voter disenfranchisement everywhere it's been tried. All of those problems erode confidence,' Malisa added.
Some groups have also argued that ranked choice voting disenfranchises minority voters, with several analyses noting that wealthier and whiter neighborhoods had fewer mismarked ballots and more use of ranking.
Though ranked choice voting has spread to a number of jurisdictions in recent years, there have also been efforts to roll it back. In Alaska, voters narrowly passed (by about 1 percentage point) a ballot measure enacting a ranked choice voting system in 2020. Four years later, an effort to repeal the system failed by an even narrower margin, 0.2 points.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

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‘It's a Race of Ideology Versus Experience'

It's a toss-up trying to identify the most surprising aspect of Tuesday's Democratic primary for New York City mayor. Is it that Eric Adams, the current mayor, is not on the ballot and waiting to run as an independent in the general election instead? That the person leading most polls is the man who had to resign the governor's office in a 'MeToo' scandal? Or that the man who just might thwart Andrew Cuomo's improbable comeback is a democratic socialist with a relatively meager political resume? These unexpected developments — not to mention the looming shadow of President Trump's declared war on his hometown — have captivated the nation as much as it has the city itself. To reckon with the crowded primary's still-evolving state of play, POLITICO's team of New York reporters — Sally Goldenberg, Michael Gartland, Jeff Coltin and Nick Reisman — sat down Wednesday for a crackling roundtable conversation. They handicapped the odds that voters will prefer youth (benefiting Zohran Mamdani) over experience (Cuomo's favorite talking point). Why New Yorkers seem to discount Cuomo's well-documented misdeeds and notoriously aggressive style ('He's a bully, but he's our bully!'). How much of a role the crisis in the Middle East and allegations of anti-Semitism are playing, and even whether a heat wave predicted for Tuesday is going to put a damper on turnout of a crucial demographic. The conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity. Michael Gartland: There's a new Marist poll out today. Cuomo is still in the lead, but there's been a good shift for Mamdani. What does it tell us as we move closer to the June 24 Democratic primary? Sally Goldenberg: Mamdani is definitely picking up steam in the closing weeks of the race, bolstered by the endorsements of Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But there's still a gap for him to close, and to do that he needs to grow his base. He's unlikely to pull voters away from Cuomo at this point, given Cuomo's popularity with older voters and Black voters. Nick Reisman: The field has been remarkably static really ever since Andrew Cuomo was included in polling. And he's essentially taken over Mayor Eric Adams' base — Black voters, Jewish New Yorkers, people without college degrees. It's the kind of coalition a candidate would need to win a Democratic primary in New York and he's got a vice grip on those demographics. Jeff Coltin: Cuomo's lead has more or less been steady for months. It seems that he has a baked in level of support, and I haven't seen much evidence that everyone else in the race relentlessly criticizing him and pushing 'Don't rank Cuomo' has made an impact on people who were already with Cuomo. Goldenberg: The early voting numbers, however, are strong in areas that would presumably go for Mamdani, showing the excitement around his candidacy. It may not be enough given Cuomo's strength but Cuomo does need to turn people out on what will be a very hot day next Tuesday. Reisman: Mamdani needs a seal of approval to get a kind of center-left Democrat who may be worried about his anti-Israel stance. It's why the New York Times editorial trashing his candidacy and lack of experience was so devastating. Goldenberg: Good point, Nick. The Times editorial was very problematic for him. That, combined with Mike Bloomberg's endorsement (and $5 million to his old foe, Cuomo) send a message to center-left voters who probably liked Kathryn Garcia last time that Mamdani lacks the necessary experience to become mayor of a huge city. Gartland: The race is viewed primarily as a two-person contest at this point, but there are several other candidates. Lander has shown signs of life in the last few days. Is a last minute surge from him possible given what the polling shows at this point? Reisman: If there are any swing voters on the Democratic side, it's the people who will vote for Brad Lander as their No. 1 but are not inclined to rank Mamdani. Goldenberg: Cuomo has also shown strength in those areas. We did a story where he's even being ranked third in Park Slope — a very lefty section of New York City. But I do wonder about those early voting numbers and the weather next Tuesday. Reisman: Lander seems to have eaten his Wheaties lately. He put in a strong second debate performance and his ICE arrest stepped on the Bernie Sanders headline Mamdani was hoping for on Tuesday. Coltin: I agree, Nick. With every poll coming out, we've been looking to see where the votes that initially went to Lander get redistributed in ranked-choice voting. And a lot of people backing Lander (Adrienne Adams, and everyone else) still plan to rank Cuomo on their ballot over Mamdani. Goldenberg: It's late for Lander to change the shape of the race though. He's polling a very distant third. Coltin: There's an expectation that Mamdani will pick up a disproportionate amount of the early vote, while Cuomo will pick up more on primary day itself, June 24. That exposes him a bit more to uncotrollable factors. Like the weather. Or whether Brad Lander makes international news by getting arrested by ICE agents. Goldenberg: Lander's best hope is a robust use of ranked-choice voting — something that the candidates and the left have resisted, confoundingly, throughout this race. They've shown no real RCV strategy — something that would probably help a Lander. Gartland: Who would the weather on Election Day most likely favor given the demographics of support? And what can we expect each candidate to do to get out the vote? Goldenberg: If it's extremely hot and older people don't vote, I assume that hurts Cuomo. Anything that hurts Cuomo helps Mamdani. Coltin: Things could change, but right now we're looking at 99 degrees and sunny on Election Day. And that could depress turnout somewhat. The biggest impact would likely be on Cuomo, who has a disproportionate share of older voters. Goldenberg: The Marist poll showed Cuomo leading with older voters by like 30 points, and pretty much the inverse with young ones for Mamdani. Young people can withstand inclement weather better, generally. Gartland: Why is it we haven't seen a more concerted effort on RCV? Reisman: Andrew Cuomo's [get out the vote] ace in the hole is the turnout operation by his allies at the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council. As we reported this week in New York Playbook, they're targeting civically engaged neighborhoods where Cuomo voters are most likely to live. Goldenberg: Because the institutional left is generally disorganized, didn't see Cuomo's strength early enough and candidates are self-interested. Coltin: At the end of the day, everyone in the race wants to win. If candidates think that cross-endorsing another candidate is more likely to help their opponent than them, they might stay away. Goldenberg: A candidate has to make the calculation that lending his support to someone else will help him more. That's a big risk all to block a candidate and not necessarily help himself. (Or herself in the case of Adrienne Adams). Reisman: Sally, the self-interest aspect can't be talked about enough. Everyone, with the exception of Cuomo, was expecting to grab the lane Mamdani has with the left and there's a bit of jealousy there. Goldenberg: Yes! Also there's a sense that the entire field should want to block Cuomo. But now some of them want to block Mamdani. Take Adrienne Adams, for instance. Coltin: Adrienne Adams is an interesting case. She's a longshot in the race, but her base of support could be enough to swing the race. And she has to consider if she wants to nudge her loyal supporters to Cuomo, or to Mamdani. Goldenberg: She may be as troubled by Mamdani as she is by Cuomo and her base is going to go with Cuomo. Gartland: Let's talk about the role money has played in this race. Cuomo's campaign is backed by a deep-pocketed super PAC. Mamdani met the campaign finance limit early. And Lander has burned through cash at a quick clip. How is all this impacting the race? Goldenberg: There's a saturation point, but I don't know what it is. Every time I look at the TV screen, I see an anti-Mamdani ad paid for by the Cuomo PAC. Reisman: Cuomo's super PAC has given him the necessary air cover. It's raised $20 million thanks to Bloomberg, DoorDash, Bill Ackman. That's a ton of cash for a citywide race, more akin to a statewide campaign. Goldenberg: I'm sure it penetrates but I'm not sure at what point we've hit saturation. That said, money always helps. Coltin: I got two mailers yesterday from Fix the City, the pro-Cuomo super PAC. One showed off Bloomberg's support for Cuomo. The other trashed Mamdani, with barely a mention of Cuomo. No other candidate or entity in the race has nearly as much money to directly message to voters. Gartland: Anti-Semitism and Israel have received plenty of attention. Why is that? And what impact, if any, will the rhetoric around those two issues have on the outcome? Coltin: It's one of Mamdani's greatest vulnerabilities. There are a significant number of voters across the city who simply will never vote for Mamdani because of his stances on Israel. Reisman: New York City has the second largest Jewish population on the planet outside of Israel. But more than that there is a long, bipartisan tradition of supporting the Jewish state in New York politics. There's a real fear among older, more moderate Democrats that the party is turning away from Israel. Goldenberg: Most Democratic primary voters are not sympathizing with Israel these days, per polling, which is why I think Cuomo is making the closing argument that Mamdani lacks relevant experience for the job and letting others call him an anti-Semite. That said, it's a very potent issue for some Democrats and donors and if Cuomo can activate those people, which I think it's safe to say he has so far, that could lead people to leave Mamdani off their ballots entirely. Reisman: With Mamdani running a strong second backed by younger voters, the concern is palpable that in a generation the Democratic Party's outlook on Israel will be very different. Gartland: Affordability has been Mamdani's primary focus throughout the campaign. He has tagged Cuomo as being for billionaires. But some of Mamdani's proposals have weathered criticism as being difficult to pay for. Coltin: On the other hand, it can't be ignored that there's a huge amount of Democratic Party voters who are extremely motivated by pro-Palestinian activism. Israel doesn't poll well among Democratic voters anymore. The loudest cheers at Mamdani's big rally with AOC on Saturday came when a supporter said 'Free Palestine.' Goldenberg: I'm not sure voters care how you pay for things. They should! I just don't think they do. Reisman: One of the more interesting stats in today's Marist poll: Cuomo has more support from people who make less than $50,000 a year. That's arguably working poor in a really expensive city, and they're breaking in droves for Cuomo. Goldenberg: And, yes, Mamdani has to persuade Gov. Kathy Hochul to raise taxes on the rich, and she's said she's not going to. It's important to make people aware of all of that. A mayor runs a $115 billion budget, but a lot of that money is accounted for and he has a lot less freedom to make things free than people may realize. Reisman: Mayors with more experience than Mamdani (Bloomberg, de Blasio) have tried and failed to get their legislative agenda through Albany. A tax hike would be a big lift. Goldenberg: That said, voters are connecting with a candidate who is articulating what they're feeling about how expensive the city is. And that connection is always more potent electorally than the pesky details, despite the importance of those details. Coltin: Mamdani has truly centered his campaign around affordability, but Cuomo is doing his best to run on it too — raising the minimum wage to $20 might be his single marquee proposal for something that's actually new. Otherwise, he's been running much more of a management-focused campaign. Goldenberg: Yes, Cuomo is running as a steady hand during a time of tumult. There's an audience for that too, obviously. Reisman: We did a fun newsletter top on Cuomo's minimum wage proposal and how he hemmed and hawed on prior wage proposals when he was governor. That said, it's a tangible policy that stands a better shot at getting through Albany even if Hochul takes a political hit for signing it. Coltin: Speaking of Hochul, quite a moment yesterday to see her playing hero, and effectively bailing Brad Lander out of ICE detention. She's really stayed out of the mayoral race until now. She doesn't like Cuomo — we all know that — but she hasn't used her considerable power and influence to campaign against him. Gartland: Cuomo and Mamdani have both attacked each other on the question of experience. Cuomo points to Mamdani's relative lack of it. Mamdani has pointed to Cuomo's objectively checkered record in office. How is this continuing to play out? And how much do you think voters are factoring that into the equation? Goldenberg: Given Kathryn Garcia's success in 2021 as the no-nonsense manager in the race, and the abysmal approval ratings for Mayor Eric Adams, I'd say management is important to a lot of people. Management and experience. But Democratic primary voters — some subset of them — are ideological, and Mamdani is capturing and growing that, too. It's a race of ideology versus experience. Reisman: If the polls are to be believed, many voters are very willing to put aside Cuomo's litany of controversies and scandals — the sexual harassment allegations he denies, the Covid nursing home policies. Part of this is his famous name, the sense of inevitability that stoked his candidacy. Goldenberg: But I don't think he ever expected a 33-year-old socialist with limited experience and a track record on Israel that many Jews find problematic to actually make him sweat. Reisman: Cuomo and his inner circle, it's well known, are not the most pleasant folks at times. But the vast majority of voters aren't reporters and they're not in politics. So they see a hard-charging leader, not the bully others have experienced. Coltin: Cuomo has totally hammered Mamdani on this. It's basically the one criticism that he's zeroed in on in speeches and interviews over the last couple weeks. 'He's only passed three bills!' And I think that's because it's effective, and the facts behind it are unassailable. He'd be the youngest mayor in a century. Goldenberg: This is why I think the Times anti-endorsement is so potent. When you go into the voting booth are you willing to select someone who has very little experience related to this job even if you like what he has to say on affordability? Obviously, many people are saying, 'Yes, let's take a chance.' But the Times is telling center-left Garcia voters 'Do not take that risk.' That has to matter some amount. Coltin: Mamdani was ready for the attack in the debate. His answer boiled down to 'It's better to have my limited experience than your bad experience.' That video clip went viral, naturally, as most things posted by his campaign do. Gartland: The subject of Cuomo and his team's style of dealing with people has come up a lot during this race. It feels somewhat baked in. That said, could his opponents have done more to exploit this weakness? How have they used it? And how do you expect they might continue to pursue that line of attack in the homestretch? Reisman: It's tough because whenever a campaign invests time and energy into 'Andrew Cuomo did XYZ,' it's time lost explaining what their candidate would affirmatively do as mayor. Goldenberg: Over the years, candidates who have tried to make a character argument against Cuomo haven't been successful. Reisman: It's become a cliche at this point to say how voters view Cuomo as 'a bully, but he's our bully.' Coltin: I heard actor and former candidate for governor Cynthia Nixon lead a couple hundred people in a chant of 'not our asshole' this weekend. I admit, I laughed out loud. But she was saying that because so many New Yorkers have made the choice 'Yes, he's an asshole, but he's our asshole.' Goldenberg: There are some clear arguments against him that touch on character but are rooted in something else, namely his treatment of New York City when his nemesis Bill de Blasio was mayor. We did a story that broke new ground on this — he withheld Covid vaccines to a site championed by de Blasio due to their feud. But voters don't seem to care about that. I think voters assume politicians are difficult people and that's baked in. No one weakened him on his strengths: experience, getting things accomplished, etc. Coltin: Donald Trump has changed the playing field. And many Democrats are going to the polls thinking about not just who should lead NYC, but who should lead it while Trump is president. Reisman: And as mentioned before, Cuomo doesn't call up an average voter in East New York and berate them off the record. If people are taking in any of this, it's Cuomo comes across as tough and no-nonsense. Goldenberg: Yes, absolutely no one cares about the inside baseball of flacks and reporters having hostile relationships. Gartland: I'm glad you brought up BDB, Sally. Bill de Blasio won City Hall for a number of reasons. One is that he captured a zeitgeist that prevailed at the time and was exemplified to a certain degree by the Occupy Wall Street movement. Is their a prevailing zeitgeist now that's informing this race? If so, what is it? And how are candidates using it to their advantages? Reisman: The perception of the city's post-Covid drift, Eric Adams' troubled mayoralty, the Trump of it all — Cuomo has used all of these factors to his advantage. He has said in so many words there is a leadership vacuum in New York and the city is once again at something of a turning point. Goldenberg: There are a few prevailing things going on in this race. One is voters want the city to be better run. That benefits Cuomo I'd assume. The other is they think everything is way too expensive. That helps Mamdani. But the thing I don't know how to account for is how the dissatisfaction with the Democratic party plays into this. Cuomo is not currently an incumbent but has all the vibes of an incumbent. He's part of the fabric of the party, a household name, a dynastic politician, etc. And it doesn't seem to be hurting him all that much. Reisman: Your point about the Democratic Party is an interesting one, Sally. Clearly the party's reputation is in tatters, even in deep blue New York. Cuomo represents an older, institutional Democratic Party. Coltin: Yep, that was AOC's big message at Mamdani's rally Saturday. Vote for change. Not 'the gerontocracy' who let Trump win in 2024. Gartland: The primary is still on. And we still have a general to get through. In the general, I think it's safe to assume we'll see the incumbent Eric Adams running as an independent, the Republican Curtis Sliwa, independent Jim Walden, as well as Cuomo and Mamdani, though it isn't clear at this point what ballot lines those last two will occupy. How might things play out with this field of candidates? And who does that field favor? Goldenberg: Conventional wisdom would hold that a general is harder for Mamdani than a primary. Gartland: What can we expect from Adams, from Cuomo, from Mamdani, etc.? Coltin: Yep, this won't be over after the primary. Adams is weakened, but he's still the incumbent mayor, and he's a real fighter. Goldenberg: Eric Adams is going to be really interesting in this: He's going to make a very different argument against Cuomo, one that will match the New York Post ed board, if Cuomo is the nominee. Will it matter? I don't know, Adams' approval rating is in the toilet. But he will not let this go by without a fight on bail reform. Reisman: I've spoken to a handful of Republicans who lament Sliwa — a deeply eccentric character to say the least— is their nominee. They believe this cycle was the right moment for them to have nominated a Republican who could win, a Bloomberg-ish type with moderate views and a pro-business acumen. This unicorn could get around 30 percent or so and have a real shot at winning. Goldenberg: And Adams will make very personal attacks about his family name, which we've already seen. Gartland: Adams is definitely weakened. Is there any real advantage for him to press in the general though? How might he impact the outcome? Goldenberg: He has the bully pulpit and I assume he'll have the Post editorial board. Coltin: If Mamdani loses the Democratic primary, it's not clear to me whether he'd take the Working Families Party line in the general and really run hard on it. On one hand he's got nothing to lose and would hold onto his Assembly seat. On the other hand, there is a very thin, almost non-existent path to victory for someone running only on the WFP line. Goldenberg: He's a good communicator when he's focused, which he's not at the moment. because he's too busy smoking cigars with someone named Sneako and kicking reporters out of press conferences.. Reisman: Watch for Adams to hammer Cuomo on the bail law and the other lefty criminal justice reforms he signed as governor. Goldenberg: But Eric Adams at his best is a strong communicator. Reisman: It's the best card he has to play against Cuomo running on a public safety platform Coltin: And the same thing goes for Cuomo, if he loses, deciding whether to run a real race on his 'Fight and Deliver' independent line. Many of the Orthodox Jewish and Black voters who are going with Cuomo in the primary could end up supporting Adams in the general. Not necessarily enough to win... but it's intriguing that Cuomo could lose some of his base between a primary and a general. Reisman: Jeff, that's right. Adams has his problems, but he may be able to steal some support back from Cuomo. Goldenberg: Adams has a money problem, but the bully pulpit is worth a lot. Lots of earned media there. (Money problem being he's not getting matching funds, which he's suing over.) Coltin: Speaking of money, if Mamdani does win the primary, I expect a Niagara Falls of money to be spent against him in a general that will make Fix the City look like a garden hose. Gartland: As discussed, Cuomo remains the clear favorite. If he ascends to City Hall, what kind of challenges and tripwires will he face? Some of course will be those any mayor faces. What challenges do you view as unique to him in that job? Mamdani, though, also clearly has a shot. What challenges do you view as unique to him if we were to make it into City Hall? Reisman: In the background for Cuomo is the Trump Department of Justice reportedly investigating him over Covid after House Republicans wrote in a referral he lied to them when he denied reading or editing a report on nursing home deaths. Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing and has said he's yet to be contacted. But if the Trump administration wants to put the screws to him, this could be a major storyline (and headache) for a Mayor Cuomo. Coltin: Another big challenge for Cuomo will be that the city is a creature of the state. Mayor is powerful but needs so much from the governor. He was in that top spot for 11 years. He would be in a position of begging for money from Kathy Hochul, his former lieutenant governor. Reisman: Andrew Cuomo is remarkably adept at finding leverage and using power. I can see Cuomo shaping events, finding allies in Albany and using that quite effectively to get what he needs. Coltin: For Mamdani, the Trump administration will also be a challenge. I can barely imagine what kind of thing Trump would post on Truth Social if a democratic socialist Muslim African immigrant wins the mayoralty. And then after posting, would he threaten to cut all funding from the city? Declare it an 'anarchist jurisdiction?' Gartland: On Mamdani, what kind of parochial concerns might he face? The New York Police Department at times posed serious challenges to de Blasio, and it doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility that a similar dynamic might materialize for the democratic socialist. How might that play out? Coltin: If he wins, Mamdani would also face a challenge of staffing up an administration. He would get a ton of interest from young leftists across the country, but he'll also want to convince experienced, less explicitly ideological New Yorkers to join the administration in top positions as well. Goldenberg: How he handles the NYPD is a very good question, one I don't know the answer to. I think the problem for Mamdani will be how he pays for all the things he's promised. I also wonder if he staffs up with former de Blasio people, Jeff. There seems to be a connection there. Reisman: Public safety fears are so baked into how voters feel about the city right now, I wonder if that along with affordability will be the defining problems for the next mayor to tackle. A big part of that is going to come with how the mayor works with the NYPD, whether Jessica Tisch (who has been praised by most of the candidates) is kept on as commissioner. Coltin: Yep, Mamdani has worked hard this campaign to avoid antagonizing the NYPD and cop unions, and as far as I can tell, it's worked. The PBA isn't endorsing in the primary. He's moved away from his former line of 'defund the police.' Gartland: Cuomo's national ambitions have also been a topic of conversation. Sally, this came up in an interview you had with the former governor recently. Based on what we've seen from Cuomo in the past and what he's said recently, what can we expect on that front? Coltin: I asked Cuomo Sunday if he'd run for president — like AOC said he would. He just laughed and said: 'Let's talk about the mayor's race.' Of course, his campaign followed up afterward and reminded us of his previous comment, that the only thing that would keep him from serving two terms as mayor is death. Reisman: There's a 30,000-foot way of looking at the national ambitions Andrew Cuomo. It's a melodrama that starts with Mario Cuomo, his late father, who was seen as a liberal voice in the Reagan era. Mario famously had a plane ready to take him to New Hampshire in 1992 to run for president but he never took it. Andrew Cuomo has not so quietly measured his own career against his father's. He's now on the cusp of winning a job his father failed to get.

Politico

13 hours ago

• Politico

Divergent focuses for Cuomo, Mamdani in the NYC mayoral race's final sprint

NEW YORK — The final, frenzied sprint in New York City's Democratic primary for mayor featured Andrew Cuomo homing in on Zohran Mamdani's refusal to condemn the phrase 'globalize the intifada' and Mamdani blasting the millions of dollars Michael Bloomberg has poured into a pro-Cuomo super PAC. In campaign stops Thursday, the rivals both name-checked the billionaire former mayor, who has contributed $8.3 million to the pro-Cuomo PAC in an effort to blunt Mamdani's momentum. Mamdani slammed the spending as an affront to democracy. Cuomo praised Bloomberg for taking a stand. 'Michael Bloomberg has sought to buy elections before. He spent an unbelievable amount of money when he ran for president,' Mamdani told reporters at an Astoria, Queens, bar. 'It's to fulfill the vision that he shared with New Yorkers many years ago: that this city should be a luxury product. And what we want this city to be is a city for working- and middle-class people.' Cuomo acknowledged Bloomberg's endorsement but devoted more pointed attention to Mamdani's recent remarks about the 'globalize the intifada' phrase, which many Jews view as a call to violence against them. Mamdani is not being criticized for using the phrase, but for his response when asked to opine on it. 'He happens to be a billionaire. Good for him. He also happens to have been a highly successful mayor of New York City,' Cuomo said of Bloomberg during a campaign stop in the Co-op City section of the Bronx. 'Mr. Bloomberg is also concerned, as are many Jewish New Yorkers, about statements that Mr. Mamdani has made. You know, when you say 'globalize the intifada,' that is basically repugnant to the Jewish community and is basically inciting violence.' With the June 24 primary just around the corner and early voting already underway, several candidates for the Democratic nomination crisscrossed the city on the Juneteenth holiday. Brad Lander, a third candidate who enjoyed a recent breakthrough with his arrest by federal immigration officials, continued his push to stay in the conversation. But he stepped gingerly into the 'intifada' debate, trying to inject nuance into the flashpoint topic. 'I don't like the phrase 'globalize the intifada,'' Lander, who is Jewish, told reporters after voting in Park Slope, Brooklyn. 'Some people, when they say it, they might mean 'fight for the rights of Palestinians,' but I'll tell you, all I can hear is 'open season on Jews.'' Lander, the city comptroller who has cross-endorsed with Mamdani under the city's ranked-choice voting system, also defended the democratic socialist. 'We do not agree on everything about Israel and Palestine, but I do believe that he will protect Jewish New Yorkers and our rights,' he said. 'And I was proud to rank him second.' Mamdani, a critic of Israel's military offensive in Gaza, was asked this week if the phrase, which has become a rallying cry for some pro-Palestinian protesters, made him uncomfortable. He did not condemn or reject it and was asked again about it Thursday. 'These words have different meanings for many different people,' Mamdani said, repeating his vow to combat antisemitism. 'I've been clear that any incitement to violence is something that I'm in opposition to, and that the use of any language to that end is clearly something that I oppose.' In recent days, Mamdani has also discussed threats he's faced over the course of his campaign, often for being Muslim. On Thursday, his campaign released a statement saying the NYPD is investigating a car bomb threat against him. In the statement, Mamdani said the threat 'is not surprising after millions of dollars have been spent on dehumanizing, Islamophobic rhetoric designed to stoke division and hate.' Recent polls put Mamdani, a state lawmaker, in second place behind Cuomo. Lander has placed third in recent polling. Mamdani said his surge just behind Cuomo is what's motivating Bloomberg's largesse — and that it highlights Cuomo's alignment with the wealthy. He also pointed to the NYPD's post-9/11 surveillance of Muslims under Bloomberg, including at mosques and schools. 'I am very critical of their limited vision as to who belongs in New York City and who is worthy of support and who is worthy of suspicion,' he said. While Cuomo and the super PAC backing him have focused many of their attacks on Mamdani's views around Israel, Cuomo has also called into question his experience. Mamdani, who's 33, has rebutted those broadsides by pointing to Cuomo's own record, including sexual harassment allegations that the former governor has denied and his handling of Covid. Cuomo continued to hammer away at Mamdani's relatively light resume Thursday. 'Mayor of New York, you need to have experience, you need to have credentials,' he said. 'You need to have had a job where you managed something before, right?'

Politico

14 hours ago

• Politico

As New York mayor's race heats up, Cuomo warns of inadequate weather plans

NEW YORK — The New York City mayoral race is heating up – literally. With temperatures predicted to hit 100 degrees on Election Day, front-runner Andrew Cuomo is anxious to get his voters into polling sites — and he's demanding better preparation from city officials. Cuomo, the Democratic frontrunner in the tightening race, posted on X, 'The steps outlined to meet the heat at polling locations are not sufficient. Water must be passed out and A/C systems must be installed to ensure that people who are voting can do so in a cool and comfortable environment.' The city Board of Elections' heat plan 'is insufficient, it's unacceptable,' Cuomo spokesperson Jason Elan said. 'We've been clear that the city should be distributing water on site, and that they would be installing a/c systems to make sure that everybody who wants to can make their voice heard on election day.' The former governor has reason to be concerned about turnout next Tuesday: His anticipated victory relies upon robust support from older voters, who are more susceptible to dangerous heat conditions. Board of Elections spokesperson Vincent Ignizio declined to comment on the Cuomo's campaign complaint. The board emphasized its preparation for the heat wave, releasing a statement earlier Thursday that staffers are finding fans for poll sites without air conditioning, 'ensuring a steady supply of water' and pledging a continuous supply of electricity, given the increased possibility of power outages. Ignizio couldn't say Thursday how many of the city's 1,213 poll sites lack air conditioning since the board's 'site-by-site assessment' was ongoing. Contingency plans are in place to keep voting going through power outages, he added. And the board doesn't expect any voters having to wait in long lines, whether indoors or out. 'Our anticipation is that there is ample amount of bandwidth in the system to accommodate the voting,' he said. There are just as many poll sites for the local primary as there were for the presidential election last year, which had roughly triple the turnout expected for the race to replace Mayor Eric Adams. Cuomo was the first candidate to publicly raise concerns about the heat wave. On Wednesday, he called on Mayor Eric Adams' administration to guarantee every poll site is 'cool, comfortable and accessible,' and ensure bottled water is provided to every voter. The former governor is running on his experience and take-charge attitude, and has taken digs at Adams' management. In a statement, City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus deferred to the Board of Elections, adding that it's an independent agency. 'As Andrew Cuomo should know, elections are managed by the New York City Board of Elections – an independent body, separate from the Adams administration,' she said. 'Mayor Adams believes that all New Yorkers should exercise their democratic right to vote, and we are coordinating closely with the New York City Board of Elections in advance of Tuesday's forecasted heat to monitor for impacts.' Cuomo isn't the only candidate with concerns. 'It's going to be blazing hot,' mayoral candidate Brad Lander said Thursday after casting his vote early. 'Let's make sure now that the air conditioning is working in every polling site, and let's make sure it's on in advance.' 'I do not have confidence that Eric Adams' administration will do it,' Lander added. Hot temperatures hurting Cuomo's vote total has been the subject of jokes from supporters of Zohran Mamdani. Cuomo's leading rival has a highly motivated base of younger voters who may be more likely to vote early, or to show up Tuesday despite the weather. 'Someone's worried about the old turnout Make it HOTTER!!!' leftist podcast host Stylianos Karoldis posted on X, referring to Cuomo. 'Praying to God it's a temperature only people under 45 can withstand,' he added. Mamdani's campaign is taking a more sober view. 'We're concerned about the health and safety of every voter, and want people to take every precaution,' spokesperson Andrew Epstein said. That includes the campaign's 'tens of thousands' of volunteers who will be standing outside poll sites as well, The campaign is preparing with pop-up tents, snacks, water and 'a lot of very specific guidance to canvassers to dress appropriately for the heat, to take breaks,' Epstein said. The National Weather Service is predicting a high near 94 Tuesday, with the heat index potentially exceeding 100 degrees at times, calling it 'a true summertime hot and humid regime.' Accuweather is also predicting that the high Tuesday could break the New York City record for June 24 of 96 degrees, set in 1888. Later that year, New Yorkers elected 30-year-old Tammany Hall favorite Hugh Grant, the youngest mayor in the city's history. Hoping to hold off the 33-year-old Mamdani, Cuomo's pushing his supporters to vote early, through Sunday, when temperatures will be merely hot, and not yet miserable. 'While it's hot out in New York today, it's only going to get hotter,' Cuomo's campaign wrote in an email to supporters Thursday. 'So please, vote today, and encourage everyone you know to vote now to avoid next week's extreme heat.' Voting rights advocates are pushing the same message. 'I don't ever remember a primary or any election day in New York state being remotely this hot,' said Perry Grossman, director of the Voting Rights Project at the New York Civil Liberties Union. 'My strong message to everybody is: early vote. Whether it's today, tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday, it's gonna be a little bit cooler. Take advantage of it.' Joe Anuta contributed reporting