New York City politics is basically a contact sport, but even for us, the last year was absolutely off the rails. If you haven't been keeping up with the chaos at City Hall, you've missed a legitimate political earthquake. We went from an incumbent mayor facing federal indictments to a 34-year-old Democratic Socialist taking the keys to the city on January 1st, 2026.
Honestly, the New York City mayoral candidates field for the 2025 cycle looked like a crowded subway car at rush hour until everything started breaking apart.
The Shocking Rise of Zohran Mamdani
Nobody—and I mean nobody—pegged Zohran Mamdani as the frontrunner when this thing started. He was a State Assembly member from Astoria with a background as a foreclosure prevention counselor. He’s now the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor in the city’s history.
How did he do it? Basically, he tapped into a massive wave of young voter registration that we haven't seen in decades. While the "old guard" was fighting over endorsements from billionaire donors, Mamdani was talking about a "Department of Community Safety" and an affordability agenda that he compared to the legendary Fiorello La Guardia.
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He didn't just win; he dominated the final rounds of ranked-choice voting. He pulled in over 1.1 million votes in the general election. That’s a number we haven't seen since 1969. It turns out, if you promise to build 500,000 new homes and actually sound like you mean it, people show up.
What Happened to Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo?
You’ve probably heard bits and pieces about the legal drama, but let’s get the facts straight. Eric Adams became the first sitting NYC mayor to be charged with crimes while in office. It was a mess—bribery, fraud, the whole bit. Then, in a twist that felt like a movie script, the DOJ under the second Trump administration dropped all those charges in early 2025.
Adams tried to mount a comeback. He even left the Democratic party to run as an independent. But by September 2025, his support had cratered to about 26%. He eventually withdrew and threw his weight behind Andrew Cuomo.
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Speaking of Cuomo, he ran one of the most aggressive "Independent" campaigns ever seen. He called his party the "Fight and Deliver Party." He almost pulled it off, too. He finished with about 41% of the vote, making it the closest mayoral race since 2009. Cuomo leaned hard into his "New York Tough" persona, but in the end, the city's progressive shift was just too strong to overcome.
The Full Primary Field: Who Else Ran?
The Democratic primary was where the real bloodletting happened. Here’s how the main contenders shook out:
- Brad Lander: The former Comptroller was a heavy favorite for the "policy wonks." He eventually came in third and did something pretty smart: he cross-endorsed Mamdani. That move basically sealed the deal for the left. Now, Lander has pivoted and is running for Congress in 2026 against Dan Goldman.
- Scott Stringer: He tried for a comeback after his 2021 loss but never really found his footing. He finished 5th in the primary with less than 2% of the vote.
- Jessica Ramos: The State Senator from Queens had a wild ride. She actually ended up endorsing Andrew Cuomo in June 2025, which absolutely stunned her progressive base. It was a huge gamble that didn't pay off; she finished 9th in the primary.
- Zellnor Myrie: A "YIMBY" favorite who pushed for 700,000 new homes. He was a serious contender but got lost in the Mamdani surge, finishing 6th.
The Sliwa Factor and the GOP
Curtis Sliwa is the guy who won't go away. The Guardian Angels founder ran again on the Republican line. He’s still wearing the red beret, still talking about animal rights and street crime, but the numbers just weren't there. He pulled about 7% of the general election vote. He’s become a bit of a fixture in NYC politics—the guy you can count on to be there, even if he's not actually going to win.
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Why This Race Matters for You Right Now
If you live here, you're already seeing the changes. Mayor Mamdani is currently filling his administration with a mix of "old hands" like First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan and young activists.
The big takeaway? The "Safe & Affordable" era of Eric Adams is over, and the "Relentless Improvement" era has begun. We’re looking at a massive push for rent control, a crackdown on retail theft through community-based models, and a complete overhaul of how the city handles homelessness.
Actionable Insights for New Yorkers:
- Watch the Housing Crisis: Mamdani has declared a state of emergency on housing. If you're a tenant, keep an eye on the new "Housing First" initiatives rolling out this quarter.
- Get Involved in "Community Safety": The new Department of Community Safety is looking for local input. This isn't just the NYPD anymore; it's a multi-agency approach.
- Track the 2026 Congressional Races: Since many mayoral "losers" like Brad Lander are now running for Congress, the political map of NYC is shifting toward the 10th District.
The city feels different. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing depends on who you ask in the bodegas, but one thing is certain: the New York City mayoral candidates of 2025 didn't just run a race; they redrew the entire blueprint of the city.