New York City mayoral candidate Mamdani casts vote in election

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) – Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate running for mayor in New York City, cast his ballot as voters headed to the polls Tuesday in the city's closely watched race.

“Today is election day — a day we have dreamed of for more than a year,” Mamdani told reporters after voting.

“It is time now for a new day in our politics, and it is an honor and a privilege to be a part of a movement that has fought every single day to bring that day forward, and today, we have until 9pm to say that our time has come.”

He said his agenda “will finally bring working class New Yorkers to the heart of our politics, a place that they Have not had for quite some time.”

Mamdani also responded to comments on Monday by President Donald Trump, who threatened to cut federal funding to the city if voters choose the Democratic hopeful, who is currently leading in the polls against competitors Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. Trump also said that New Yorkers had "no choice" but to vote for Cuomo, a former New York governor who lost the primary to Mamdani in June.

“President Trump also encouraged every New Yorker to vote for Andrew Cuomo. There are many things that he will say and that he will do that will not actually bear out in the results within our own city. I will treat his threats as they deserve to be treated, which are the words of a president and not necessarily the law of the land,” he said.

“What we see in the language of Donald Trump is a premise, as if it is his decision on whether or not to fund the city the very money that this city is owed.

"I look forward to utilizing every single tool at my disposal as the next mayor of the city to fight for the people. That means using the courts, that means using the bully pulpit, that means ensuring that we actually follow the letter of the law,” he continued, vowing that he "will not be intimidated by this president.”

Mamdani, 34, was born in Kampala, Uganda to Indian parents and raised in New York from the age of seven. If elected, he would become the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor.

Competing against him are Cuomo and Sliwa, a rightwing community activist and radio talk show host.

Polling data compiled by Real Clear Politics website has Mamdani up by an average of 14.3%.

The review has Mamdani at 46.1% to Cuomo’s 31.8%. Sliwa sits in third place at 16.3%.