Democrat Zohran Mamdani leads the race against Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.

Starting Saturday and running through Nov. 4, New Yorkers are called to cast their early votes to elect the city’s next mayor as well as its main public officials.

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Three candidates — Democrat Zohran Mamdani, who leads in voting intention; independent Andrew Cuomo, former state governor; and Republican Curtis Sliwa — are competing for the post being vacated by Eric Adams, who withdrew his bid for re-election.

“These are not ordinary elections. They come after the presidential election in which Trump won, and that’s causing a reaction among voters,” said Carlos Vargas, a professor at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at the City University of New York (CUNY).

“I think many people who oppose President Donald Trump will go out and vote in this election simply to feel like they have an option — like they have the ability to step in, make a change, and send a message to the Republican leader,” he added.

The start of the electoral process comes just four days after immigration and other federal agents carried out a street raid in New York against street vendors, arresting several people and sparking new protests against Trump’s anti-immigrant policy.

On Nov. 4, Virginia — under Republican control — and New Jersey — led by Democrats — will also elect their next governors.

These electoral processes are unfolding in a broader context in which voters have witnessed dramatic mass deportations, confrontations between the military and opponents of federal policies, and legal actions against critics of current events.

Although municipal elections in New York typically see very low voter turnout — less than 20% four years ago — the timing of this election could influence citizen mobilization in favor of Mamdani’s candidacy. Conservatives have repeatedly attacked Mamdani, who has the backing of major labor unions and progressive politicians, including Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The 34-year-old politician, who has described himself as a “democratic socialist,” is not the typical seasoned political insider like the outgoing mayor, a former police officer, senator, and Brooklyn borough president.

In the United States, early voting was first used in Massachusetts during the 2016 general election and in New York starting in 2019, after the state passed a law establishing eight days of early voting statewide.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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