NYC's Democratic primary is here. What to know about candidates, ranked choice voting
New York City’s crowded Democratic primary for mayor is coming to a close on June 24 with two candidates leading the race for the coveted nomination.
Nearly a dozen candidates are on the ballot in the city’s ranked choice voting system that allows primary voters to rank up to five candidates. Polling shows former Gov. Andrew Cuomo as the frontrunner narrowly leading state Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani.
While voters' first choices for mayor are expected June 24, no one candidate is likely to garner more than 50% of votes, which is needed to be declared winner on the first round. That’s where the ranked choice voting system kicks in, eliminating candidates with the fewest votes over several rounds, until there are just two candidates left. That process is expected to take until July 1.
In the heavily Democratic city, the candidate who wins the primary gains a considerable advantage in the November general election. But Mayor Eric Adams is running for re-election as an independent and both Cuomo and Mamdani have the option of running on a minor-party line if they lose the Democratic primary. There is also a Republican candidate for mayor, anti-crime activist Curis Sliwa.
Here’s what to know about New York City’s Democratic primary.
When is voting happening?
Early voting took place between June 14 and June 22. Primary election day voting takes place June 24. Polls are open 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
How New York City's ranked choice primaries work
New York City uses ranked choice voting in city elections for mayor, City Council, public advocate, comptroller and borough president. Voters approved the system in 2019 and it was first used in 2021.
Think of ranked choice voting like picking your favorite ice cream flavors. You can rank up to five flavors, or candidates. Even if your top choice doesn’t make it, you still have your other options that can get counted.
If a candidate wins over 50% of first-choice votes, that candidate wins. Aside from the mayor, most elections will likely be decided in the first round because they have far fewer candidates.
In the mayor’s race, it’s unlikely one candidate garners over half of first-round votes. That means it goes into subsequent rounds.
After each round, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes gets eliminated. Voters who had that last-place candidate ranked first now get to have their next choice counted.
The process continues on, eliminating candidates, until there are two candidates left.
Who are the candidates for NYC mayor?
On the Democratic side, the candidates include Cuomo, New York City Council speaker Adrienne Adams, former Democratic National Committee Vice Chair Michael Blake, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, Mamdani, New York state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, New York state Sen. Jessica Ramos, former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer and retired hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson.
Attorney Jim Walden joins Adams as an independent candidate. Sliwa is the only Republican candidate, so there will be no Republican primary.
Why is Andrew Cuomo controversial?
Cuomo, 67, resigned as New York governor in 2021 amid allegations of sexual harrasment that included kissing, groping, hugging and inappropriate comments, according to a report from the state Attorney General's Office.
His former aide, Lindsey Boylan, had published an essay detailing his alleged harassing behavior, including a 2018 meeting in which he kissed her on the lips without consent as she left. Boylan was followed by a number of other women who publicly shared similar stories of a governor who made inappropriate remarks and unwanted advances.
Cuomo denied any misbehavior, saying he never touched anyone inappropriately while acknowledging he makes jokes and sometimes asks his staff about their personal lives.
During the pandemic, Cuomo’s administration withheld the true COVID-19 death toll inside nursing homes, according to a probe by state Attorney General Letitia James’ office. He also faced investigations for a $5 million book deal he received while in office, after being accused of using state resources to write the book.
Some in his inner circle have also faced scandals. Top aide Joseph Percoco and state university official Alain Kaloyeros self-dealed and rigged bids on projects before the state. Percoco and Kaloyeros served prison time.
Why isn't Mayor Eric Adams on the ballot?
Mayor Eric Adams won the mayoralty by winning in the 2021 Democratic primary, the first time New York City used ranked choice voting. He’s still running for re-election in November, but dropped out of the Democratic primary after a scandal-plagued tenure caused his approval ratings to plummet.
Several deputy mayors have resigned, and he’s had aides and top officials in City Hall indicted or had their homes raided in corruption probes.
Adams faced federal corruption charges until President Donald Trump’s Justice Department dropped the case, saying it interfered with Adams' work aiding the administration on immigration enforcement and fighting crime.
Adams denies any wrongdoing.
In April, Adams, a former Republican, announced he’d skip the crowded Democratic primary.
Who is leading in the polls?
An Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey released on June 23 found Mamdani, 33, beating Cuomo by a few percentage points in the final round of a ranked choice voting situation.
The poll found that in the eight round of ranked choice voting, Mamdani would beat Cuomo 51.8% to 48.2%. The final round was conducted among 729 likely voters and those who have voted early, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
Progressive New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Mamdani at the beginning of June, delivering a boost to the candidate.
But previous polls have found Cuomo in the lead.
A poll from PIX11/Emerson College and The Hill conducted between May 23 and May 26 found that in a ranked-choice voting situation, in which voters rank candidates by order of preference, Cuomo would beat Mamdani 54.4% to 45.6% in the 10th round. The survey was conducted among 1,000 registered New York voters with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
A Marist University poll on May 14 found Cuomo leading Mamdani by 60% to 40% in the sixth round of ranked choice voting. The survey was conducted among 3,383 likely Democratic primary voters with a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points.
What do betting markets say?
For months, Cuomo was leading in betting markets. More recently, as polls have shown the race narrowing between Cuomo and Mamdani, markets have them near even.
On June 23, Polymarket, a cryptocurrency-based prediction market, briefly had Mamdani beating Cuomo after the Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey released showing Mamdani edging Cuomo out in the eighth round of ranked choice voting. Markets still have Cuomo slightly ahead though.
When can we expect results?
Unofficial results of first-choice votes will be available shortly after polls close at 9 p.m. on election night. According to the city Board of Elections, these will include votes made in early voting, Election Day voting at polling sites, as well as any valid mail ballots canvassed, but not affidavit ballots.
But given that it's unlikely a candidate will garner over 50% of first-round votes, tallies for the next rounds as candidates get eliminated will take longer.
On July 1, the elections board an unofficial result will be released. Official results will likely come out on July 14.
In other words, don't hold your breath for a winner on election night. But we could get a better picture of who comes out on top.
Contributing: Ben Adler, Dan Morrison, Kinsey Crowley, Fernando Cervantes Jr., Alia E. Dastagir, Jon Campbell and Joseph Spector