New York City politics is basically a blood sport. If you’ve spent any time walking through the five boroughs lately, you know the vibe is... tense. People are frustrated. Between the skyrocketing rents that make a shoebox feel like a luxury and the feeling that City Hall has been more of a "crime scene" than a government office, the 2025 race was always going to be a wild ride. But nobody—honestly, nobody—predicted where we’d end up today.
As we sit in early 2026, looking back at the dust that finally settled after the November 4th election, the list of mayor New York candidates tells a story of a city that completely broke its own mold.
The Shocking Rise of Zohran Mamdani
Let’s be real for a second. If you’d said a year ago that Zohran Mamdani, a socialist state assemblyman from Queens, would be sitting in Gracie Mansion right now, most political insiders would have laughed you out of the room. But that's exactly what happened.
Mamdani didn't just win; he pulled off a massive upset in the June Democratic primary, knocking out heavyweights like former Governor Andrew Cuomo. He did it by leaning hard into "unapologetic" policies. We're talking about a guy who campaigned on a citywide rent freeze and making the buses free.
His coalition was fascinating. It wasn't just the young "Brooklyn progressives" you might expect. He managed to tap into a deep, visceral anger among working-class New Yorkers who feel like they’re being priced out of their own lives. By the time the general election rolled around, Mamdani had secured the Democratic and Working Families Party lines, eventually racking up over 1.1 million votes—the first time a candidate has crossed that million-vote threshold in decades.
The Cuomo Comeback That Almost Was
Then there’s Andrew Cuomo. Love him or hate him, you can’t say the man doesn’t know how to grab a headline. After resigning as Governor in 2021 amid a sea of scandals, he spent years in the political wilderness. His entry into the 2025 mayoral race was the city's worst-kept secret.
For a while, the polls made it look like his race to lose. He had the name recognition. He had the "I can fix it" tough-guy persona. Even after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, Cuomo refused to pack it up. He launched the "Fight and Deliver" party, running as an independent in the general election.
It was a gutsy move, honestly. He argued that Mamdani was too radical and that the city needed an "experienced hand" to navigate the chaos left behind by the Adams administration. He ended up with about 41% of the vote—a strong showing for an independent, but not enough to overcome the Mamdani surge.
What Happened to Eric Adams?
It's kinda wild how fast things changed for the incumbent. Mayor Eric Adams started the cycle as the favorite, but federal investigations and sagging approval ratings turned his re-election bid into a nightmare.
In a move that stunned the city, Adams actually withdrew from the race in late September 2025. He cited low poll numbers and a desire to focus on his remaining time in office. Because he missed the deadline to get off the ballot, his name was still there on Election Day, but he only pulled in a fraction of a percent of the vote. It was a quiet, almost surreal end to one of the most colorful mayoral tenures in NYC history.
The Field of Challengers
While Mamdani and Cuomo sucked up most of the oxygen, the field of mayor New York candidates was actually pretty crowded early on. You had some serious talent trying to find a path:
- Brad Lander: The City Comptroller ran a very "data-driven" campaign. He wanted to be the "housing mayor" and promised to build 500,000 new homes. He’s a policy wonk through and through, but he struggled to get the same emotional resonance as Mamdani.
- Scott Stringer: The former Comptroller tried for a comeback too, running on his "hustle" and financial expertise. He positioned himself as the stable, non-chaotic choice.
- Jessica Ramos: A State Senator from Queens who focused heavily on labor rights and universal childcare. She’s a powerhouse in the Senate, but the primary lane was just too crowded.
- Zellnor Myrie: Another State Senator who brought a lot of energy to the early debates, focusing on "housing first" approaches to homelessness.
On the Republican side, Curtis Sliwa was back with his signature red beret. Running on a "law and order" platform (and a very vocal love for animals), Sliwa did his usual thing. He got the endorsement of Rudy Giuliani and held onto a solid 7% of the vote, but in a city as blue as New York, that's basically a ceiling.
Why the 2025 Race Changed Everything
This wasn't just another election. It was a vibe shift. For the first time in a long time, the "safe" middle-of-the-road candidates got squeezed out. Voters were presented with a choice between a radical progressive vision (Mamdani) and a return to the old-school, top-down governance of the Cuomo era.
Young voter turnout was the secret sauce. Registration spiked, and those new voters didn't want "pragmatic increments"—they wanted a transformation. This led to Mamdani becoming the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor in NYC history, not to mention the youngest since the 1800s.
What This Means for You Right Now
If you're living in NYC or thinking of moving here, the "Mamdani Era" is going to look a lot different than the last few years. Here is what you actually need to keep an eye on:
1. Rent and Housing
The new administration is pushing for a total freeze on rent-stabilized apartments. If you're a tenant, this is huge. If you're a small landlord, you're probably sweating. Expect a lot of legal battles in Albany over this.
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2. Transit Shifts
Free buses are the goal. They’re starting with pilot programs on major lines. If your commute involves the Bx12 or the M15, your wallet might start feeling a little heavier soon.
3. Public Safety
Mamdani is moving away from the "tough on crime" rhetoric of the past and toward a "Department of Community Safety." This means more mental health workers in subways instead of just more cops. It’s a massive experiment in urban policy.
4. The Cuomo Factor
Andrew Cuomo didn't win, but he proved he still has a massive base of support. Don't expect him to go away. He’ll likely be the loudest critic of every move the new mayor makes, potentially setting himself up for a 2026 gubernatorial run.
The best thing you can do is stay engaged with your local Community Board. Most of these big changes—especially around housing and bike lanes—get thrashed out at the local level before they ever reach City Hall. New York is changing fast, and the 2025 election was just the starting gun.
Practical Next Steps for New Yorkers:
- Check Your Rent Status: Go to the NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) website to see if your apartment is rent-stabilized; the new policies will affect you first.
- Follow the "Free Bus" Rollout: Keep tabs on the MTA’s announcements regarding the expansion of fare-free pilot programs in your borough.
- Join a Community Board: If you want a say in how the new housing developments look in your neighborhood, these meetings are where the real influence happens.