Early Voting Surges in New York Mayoral Race, but Whom Does This Benefit?

"Five times as many New Yorkers cast ballots in the first day of early voting on Saturday than did on the first day of early voting in the mayoral election four years ago. Manhattan led the surge with 24,046 ballots cast on Saturday, up from 4,563 four years ago. Brooklyn and Queens also saw five-fold increases in early voting, with 22,105 and 19,045 voters casting ballots respectively. The Bronx and Staten Island trailed these three boroughs but also saw large increases from four years ago."

"'I imagine it's good for Mamdani because he is the change candidate,' a Democratic strategist, Michael Hardaway, tells the New York Sun of the high early voting numbers. 'I think this election is about people who are pissed off about the cost of living in New York City.'"

"The Democratic candidate, Mr. Mamdani, made affordability the central message of his campaign., promising New Yorkers free buses, free childcare, and a rent freeze on subsidized apartments. He has a double-digit lead in all major polls heading into election day November 4."

Early voting turnout surged fivefold across New York City compared with the mayoral election four years ago, with Manhattan casting 24,046 ballots versus 4,563 previously. Brooklyn recorded 22,105 ballots and Queens 19,045; the Bronx and Staten Island also posted large increases. Strategists are divided on which candidate benefits, though a Democratic strategist said the surge likely helps Zohran Mamdani as the change candidate representing voters angry about the cost of living. Mamdani centers his campaign on affordability, promising free buses, free childcare, and a rent freeze on subsidized apartments, and holds a double-digit lead in major polls ahead of November 4. He won Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens in the June primary; Governor Andrew Cuomo runs as an independent and is his chief challenger.

Read at The New York Sun