Who is running for NYC mayor, why is Cuomo leading the polls?
Mayoral candidates slam Eric Adams at forum
With less than five months until the Democratic primary, seven candidates hoping to unseat Mayor Eric Adams took the stage at a mayoral forum on the Upper West Side. While Adams was absent, his presence loomed large as challengers criticized his leadership and laid out their visions for the city. FOX 5's Teresa Priolo has the story.
NEW YORK - Embattled, incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams is currently facing an uphill political challenge as his approval rating heads downhill.
Historically, no incumbent mayor has lost a primary election in nearly 50 years, adding pressure on Adams as voter discontent grows.
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a three-term popular governor, currently leads early polls with 33%.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 14: The Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, Eric Adams, joins New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to hold a joint news conference in Brooklyn where the two leaders spoke on the rising rates of gun violence across the city
According to recent reports, Cuomo could be considering a political comeback and may formally announce his candidacy for mayor in the coming weeks.
Cuomo resigned in 2021 following multiple sexual harassment allegations, which he denies.
Who's winning?:
Adams holds second place with 10% support, followed by former City Comptroller Scott Stringer with 8%. Senators Jessica Ramos, Zellnor Myrie, and Comptroller Brad Lander are tied at 6%, underscoring the highly competitive nature of the race.
SKIP TO: Candidates | How to vote | Ranked choice
New York City will use ranked-choice voting in primary and special elections for mayoral races.
How does ranked choice voting work?
Why you should care:
In ranked choice voting, you can rank up to 5 candidates.
- First Round: If a candidate gets over 50%, they win.
- No Majority? The lowest-ranked candidate is eliminated, and their votes go to voters' next choices.
- Repeat: This continues until two candidates remain, and the one with the most votes wins.
Results are final only after all ballots (including absentee) are counted. For the June 27 Primary, ranked-choice voting will be used for City Council races.
Here’s a quick look at the key candidates vying for mayor and what they stand for.
What they're saying:
Eric Adams
One-on-one with Mayor Eric Adams
Rosanna Scotto sat down with Mayor Adams to talk about the latest with the migrant crisis in the city and the raid of his top campaign fundraiser.
Incumbent Mayor Adams has pleaded not guilty to corruption charges stemming largely from his relationships with several Turkish government officials and businesspeople from 2015 to 2022. The indictment against him alleges that he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in overseas travel benefits and illegal campaign donations from people seeking to buy his influence.
Most recently, Adams seems to be focused on bridging the gap between the city and Washington, D.C., public safety, and "doing his job."
Brad Lander
NYC Comptroller Brad Lander talks about his run for mayor
FOX 5 NY speaks to Comptroller Brad Lander about his run for Mayor, how the Adams administration has handled the migrant crisis, budget cuts and the city's housing and affordability crisis.
Lander is a progressive who advocates for police reform, affordable housing, and better management of the migrant crisis. He has criticized Adams' handling of migrant services and aims to improve workforce development for migrants.
Lander has faced criticism for speeding violations despite pushing for stricter traffic laws.
SKIP TO: Candidates | How to vote | Ranked choice
Jessica Ramos
NY State senator Ramos looks to unseat Mayor Adams
State Sen. Jessica Ramos announced that she would be running for NYC mayor amid calls for Eric Adams to resign.
Ramos focuses on affordable housing, tackling human trafficking, and improving city services.
As the only woman in the race, Ramos connects deeply with immigrant communities and emphasizes the importance of basic services like garbage collection and school funding.
She is also a strong advocate for closing the immigrant trust gap and providing better support for migrant workers.
Whitney Tilson
Whitney Tilson speaks during a Bloomberg TV interview at the Robin Hood Investor's Conference in New York, U.S., on Monday, Nov. 16, 2015. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Tilson is an investor and editor at Stansberry Research, a prominent investment research firm. As a moderate he is focused on improving public safety in New York City.
While his lack of political experience results in low name recognition, Tilson is a millionaire with significant financial expertise.
Zellnor Myrie
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 19: State Senator Zellnor Myrie speaks during a press conference on Universal Child Care at Columbus Park Playground on November 19, 2024 in New York City. New Yorkers United for Child Care (NYUC) were joined by elected
Myrie is a Brooklyn native focused on affordable housing and electoral reform. Myrie is known for legislative victories on tenant protections and voting rights.
As Chair of the Elections Committee, Myrie has worked on improving election processes and policies.
Zohran Mamdani
Mamdani is a self-declared socialist with a focus on rent freezes, free bus rides, and no-cost childcare. He advocates for housing affordability and aims to redirect funds to public institutions like CUNY.
Mamdani is known for his activism, including leading a hunger strike with taxi drivers.
SKIP TO: Candidates | How to vote | Ranked choice
Scott Stringer
Stringer, former NYC comptroller, is focused on transparency and good governance. Stringer was the first mayoral candidate to qualify for public matching funds
He’s gained attention last mayoral cycle in the race despite sexual misconduct allegations from a former intern, which he denies.
Stringer is tied for third in the most recent poll with 8 percent alongside state Sen. Jessica Ramos, State Sen. Zellnor Myrie.
Michael Blake
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee Michael Blake attends Swing Left's "The Last Weekend" Election Rally at Cooper Union on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)
A former Bronx assemblyman and vice chair of the DNC, Blake focuses on economic equity and social justice. He has a history of unsuccessful runs for public office but remains a prominent political figure.
Jim Walden
Attorney Jim Walden of the law firm Walden, Macht & Haran, speaks with tenant activists at a rally in City Hall Plaza in Manhattan, New York, announcing he and his firm are filing a lawsuit against the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
Walden is a former prosecutor turned high-profile lawyer who campaigns on a centrist platform focused on housing solutions and anti-corruption.
Most recently, Walden raised nearly $630,000 in the latest reporting period, according to his campaign office, surpassing all of Mayor Adams' challengers, though the full amount has not been disclosed.
Walden promises to create over 50,000 new housing units every year.
How to vote in NYC
- Feb. 14: Last day to change political party enrollment for the primary.
- June 9: Last day to change your address before the June primary.
- June 14: Last day to change your address before the general election.
New York City will use ranked-choice voting in Primary and Special Elections for Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, and City Council. This change was approved by voters in 2019.