TRANSCRIPT
Far beyond New York City's five boroughs, the 2025 Mayoral election has commanded global attention.
As the largest city in the US, with a budget of over $175 billion dollars, this election will decide the most powerful municipal official in the country.
With U-S politics experiencing a profound shake-up under President Donald Trump, the future of one of America's most progressive and culturally influential cities could have wide implications.
So who exactly are Curtis Sliwa, Andrew Cuomo, and Zohran Mamdani?
And why does President Donald Trump seem so concerned about the outcome?
Running as the Republican Candidate, Curtis Sliwa gained prominence as the leader of the Guardian Angels, a volunteer crime-prevention group that gained notoriety for its patrols of the city subway system.
The 71 year old platforms on public safety and animal rights; a known lover of animals, he has owned as many as 17 stray cats at once.
Regularly seen donning a red beret, Mr Sliwa has more recently been a local political candidate, a radio show host, and a media personality.
"I have to hang up the beret, no longer be wearing the beret. In fact, I gotta get used to this (taking beret off). I gotta grow some hair because that's part of the reason that I always wear the red beret. So actually, becoming mayor and saving New York City is more important than wearing this red beret, far more important than wearing this red beret."
Despite being a Republican, Mr Sliwa says he does not identify as MAGA and has not been endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Polling third place, Mr Sliwa has faced calls from several prominent Republicans to drop out of the race, amid concerns he'll split the moderate-conservative vote and boost Mr Mamdani's chance at winning.
Asked if he had plans to step down, Mr Sliwa says there's no chance.
"I am at the top of the ballot for all Republicans running. So if suddenly I had a drug-induced psychosis and decided to drop out, I'm hurting everybody who's running - public advocate, comptroller, borough president, and especially city council. We have some really important city council races where if I dropped out, it might mean that people will not vote for them."
Polling in second place is Andrew Cuomo.
The Democrat-turned-Independent has received US$20 million in political donations from backers traditionally seen donating to Republican candidates.
He has also received the reluctant backing of Donald Trump.
After losing to Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primaries, Mr Cuomo re-entered the race as an independent candidate.
"I am in it to win it. My opponent, Mr. Mamdani, offers slick slogans but no real solutions. We need a city with lower rents, safer streets, where buying your first home is once again possible, where childcare won't bankrupt you - that's the New York City we know, that's the one that is still possible. You haven't given up on it and you deserve a mayor with the experience and ideas to make it happen again."
Four years ago, he resigned in disgrace from the role of Governor of New York.
Calls for his resignation came after an investigation found he had sexually harassed at least ten women, most of whom worked for him at the time.
He denies any wrongdoing and prosecutors say despite the credibility of the allegations, they could not pursue criminal charges without further evidence.
Outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams also threw support behind Andrew Cuomo.
"I'm fighting for the family of New York. That's why I'm here today to endorse Andrew Cuomo to be part of this fight. And I'm going to give it my all these next few days."
In late 2024, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams was charged with conspiracy, fraud, soliciting illegal campaign contributions, and bribery.
The cae was dismissed after the Trump administration ordered the Department of Justice to do so.
Speaking ahead of the vote, Mr Cuomo said Zohran Mamdani did not represent the Democrats like he and Mr Adams did.
“When it comes to a big issue and when we have to come together, nobody comes together like family and we are the Democratic family. Two points, Mayor Adams hit the first point. The Democratic Party is having a civil war. You don't hear it, you don't see it, but it's going on in this election. And there's two sides that are fighting. You have a far left extremist group that are called themselves socialists. Socialist sounds nice, utopia. Socialism hasn't worked anywhere."
Last, but certainly not least, is the self-proclaimed Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani.
With a commanding lead in the polls, Mr Mamdani has run on a platform of making New York affordable for all New Yorkers and his campaign has drawn both admiration and animosity from both sides of the aisle.
First elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020, little was known about the 34 year old Democratic candidate ahead of the election.
Praised for his mobilisation of younger voters and his effective campaigning, Mr Mamdani has big plans for the job.
"Here is what we stand for, my friends. We are going to freeze the rent for more than 2 million rent-stabilized tenants and use every resource at our disposal to build housing for everyone who needs it. We are going to eliminate the fare on every single bus line and make what are currently the slowest buses in the nation move around this city with ease. And we are going to create universal childcare at no cost to parents."
Born in Uganda, Mr Mamdani moved to New York at age seven and if elected would be New York's first Muslim and South Asian mayor.
Labelled by his opponents as antisemitic for holding a critical view of Israel, Mr Mamdani says there is no room for antisemitism in New York City and vowed to increase funding to combat hate crimes.
Critics and opponents have raised concerns about his lack of experience in politics, but for many, that separation from the establishment is exactly what's drawing them in.
During the campaign, Mr Mamdani spoke about the spate of Islamophobia he's faced from his opponents.
"Yesterday, Andrew Cuomo laughed and agreed when a radio host said that I would cheer another 9/11. Yesterday, (New York Mayor) Eric Adams said that we can't let our city become Europe. He compared me to violent extremists. And he lied again and again when he said that our movement seeks to burn churches and destroy communities. The day before that, Curtis Sliwa slandered me from the debate stage when he claimed that I support global jihad."
During his campaign, Mr Mamdani has cast himself as a "progressive Muslim immigrant" and has vowed to be Donald Trump's worst nightmare.
With a solid lead in many polls, President Donald Trump says if Mr Mamdani is elected, New York City will be unlikely to receive any more federal funding.
“Well, I looked at the polls and, looks like we're going to have a communist as the mayor of New York. And it'll be very interesting. But here's the good news. He's got to go through the White House - everything goes to the White House, at least this White House it does and we'll have to see what happens."
While some voters fear the Trump administration will punish the city for electing Mr Mamdani, others, like 78-year-old David Rosner, say they hope the act of defiance will mobilize more cities to stand up to the President.
“Let them come and invade the city. I'd love to see him invade this city. I think this city will stand up to him. And I think Zorhan will. And I think, I think we are really the last bastion of hope in this country.”
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Who is Zohran Mamdani? The self-described socialist could become New York's next mayor
