New York chooses a new mayor with young leftist Mamdani a favourite
The Big Apple is heading to the polling station. Following a corruption scandal, New York's current mayor Eric Adams will not be running for re-election. The favourite to succeed him is 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani – much to Trump's annoyance.
New York (dpa) - The US East Coast metropolis of New York is electing a new mayor this Tuesday. The favourite in this liberal stronghold with more than eight million inhabitants is 34-year-old left-wing Democrat Zohran Mamdani. The current member of the New York State Assembly promises, among other things, rent controls, free buses and childcare. To finance these measures, Mamdani wants to raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
Mamdani had recently been well ahead in the polls. An election victory would make him one of US President Donald Trump's most prominent opponents. Mamdani would be the first Muslim mayor in the history of the metropolis. The current mayor, Eric Adams, who has been in office since 2022, withdrew his candidacy after a corruption scandal, among other things.
Mamdani is running against former Democratic Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo. The 67-year-old resigned from his position as governor of the state in 2021 following allegations of sexual harassment and now wants to become mayor as an independent candidate. Cuomo argues that he has the experience in political office that Mamdani lacks.
Also on the ballot is Republican challenger Curtis Sliwa. The 71-year-old founder of a citizens' initiative for greater safety on the streets lost to Adams four years ago.
New York City is a cultural and financial centre in the United States and worldwide. In the US, the metropolis also has greater political significance than other cities.