New York City, United States – On the eve of one of the most consequential mayoral elections in New York City’s recent history, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani urged voters and volunteers to push forward as he stands on the brink of a potentially groundbreaking victory.

Speaking at a dusk rally in Astoria, Queens, where his political journey began, the 34-year-old state assemblyman delivered a passionate message to supporters: this moment is about “remaking the politics of the place you call home”.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist of Indian and Ugandan heritage, surged to prominence after his shocking win in the June 2025 Democratic mayoral primary, beating out establishment favorite and former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Now, he stands poised to become the first Muslim, first African-born, and first South Asian mayor of the largest city in the United States.

Final Push: ‘Leave Everything on the Field’

Addressing a crowd of over 100,000 volunteers and supporters clad in the campaign’s signature yellow beanies, Mamdani made clear that his run is about transformative change for working people—from universal childcare and free public transit to rent freezes and progressive taxation.

“These are the hands that have brought us to this point of making history in this city,” Mamdani said to roaring applause. “When you focus and fight for working people, you can, in fact, remake the politics of the place that you call home.”

Voter enthusiasm is reflected in the turnout so far: more than 735,000 New Yorkers have voted early, according to the Board of Elections—four times as many as in the 2021 mayoral race.

Supporter Tasnuva Khan, active in the growing Bangladeshi and Muslim communities in Queens, noted the widespread political engagement Mamdani’s campaign has sparked.

“This race shows how powerful our communities are,” she said. “If we keep knocking on doors and reaching out, we can really deliver a powerful result.”

Trump Endorses Cuomo, Adding Fuel to a Tense Race

With polls still showing Mamdani ahead, though by a shrinking margin, the race was thrown into further uncertainty when US President Donald Trump endorsed Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo earlier Monday.

Trump, who previously mocked Mamdani as a “communist”, urged New Yorkers to support Cuomo—calling him the “bad Democrat” in contrast to Mamdani. Billionaire Elon Musk followed suit, backing Cuomo in social media posts.

Cuomo, who resigned as New York Governor in 2021 amid a sexual misconduct scandal, has urged disaffected Republican voters to rally behind him and reject what he called Mamdani’s “socialist agenda”.

“Socialism did not work in Venezuela. Socialism did not work in Cuba. Socialism will not work in New York City,” Cuomo said at a Bronx rally.

Yet some voters, like Gwendolyn Paige, a special education worker from the Bronx, remain wary of Cuomo’s long political legacy but uncertain about Mamdani’s ability to face off against Trump’s threats—including cutting federal funding and deploying the National Guard to NYC.

“I’m still deciding,” she said. “The stakes feel really high.”

Anxiety and Hope Among Mamdani Supporters

While many see Mamdani’s candidacy as a rejection of establishment politics, some supporters fear that—even if he wins—implementing his ambitious agenda will require overcoming resistance from entrenched political forces.

Shabnam Salehezadehi, a dentist from Queens and early Mamdani supporter, put it plainly:

“Winning is just the beginning. We need a mandate, and we need lawmakers that will help him deliver.”

Her biggest concern? That the city—and the country—will hesitate to fully support a leader who has boldly stood with Palestinian rights and challenged traditional Democratic positions.

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🗳️ Election Day Details & What’s at Stake

• Polls open: Tuesday, November 4, from 6am to 9pm (ET)
• Early voting: Over 735,000 ballots cast
• Registered voters in NYC: 4.7 million
• Result expected: Tuesday night or early Wednesday
• Next mayor sworn in: January 2026

With just hours before the polls open, undecided voters like Lisa Gonzalez, a retired Army veteran, are carefully weighing their options. With Trump threatening retribution if Mamdani wins, she admits:

“I’m going to be very careful tomorrow when I vote.”

As New York braces for an election that could redefine its political future, all eyes are on what could be a historic night—not just for the city, but for the nation.