Early voting begins on Saturday in several New York primaries, including congressional races that could shake up the political landscape in New York City and decide the competitors for a key swing seat ahead of the midterm elections.
In the city, the districts in contention are all safe seats for Democrats, meaning that the winners of the primaries are likely to win in November.
Some of the races could test the strength of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s influence on the direction of the party, as upstart progressives battle more establishment candidates for the opportunity to help shape the party’s response to President Trump’s agenda. Others have drawn attention because of the personalities involved — including a Trump-backed sticker tycoon running a provocative campaign upstate and a Kennedy heir vying for a Manhattan seat.
Primary Day is Tuesday, June 23. Here’s what to know.
When, Where and How to Vote
New York is a closed primary state, meaning Democrats and Republicans can vote only in their own parties’ primaries. Unaffiliated or independent voters cannot participate in primaries.
The early voting period in New York City begins on Saturday, June 13, the same day that voter registration ends, and runs through Sunday, June 21.
Polls are open at the times listed below, according to the Board of Elections:
June 13 to June 15: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
June 16 and June 17: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
June 18: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
June 19 to June 21: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On Primary Day, polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., which is also the last day to mail a ballot or drop it off.
Early voting locations are often different from Primary Day polling places. Voters can check their early voting sites on the Board of Elections website.
What to Watch For
The three most competitive races are most likely in New York’s 10th District, the 12th District and the 13th District.
In the 10th District in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, the former city comptroller and Mamdani ally Brad Lander is challenging Dan Goldman, a two-term representative and high-profile Trump antagonist. Support for Israel has taken center stage in the progressive district, which has a large Jewish population: Allies of Mr. Lander, who has called the war in Gaza a genocide, have attacked Mr. Goldman for his ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
In the 12th District, which spans Manhattan’s middle section from the Upper West Side and Upper East Side down to Chelsea and the East Village, the retirement of Representative Jerrold Nadler has left a vacant seat. Jack Schlossberg has attracted attention for his Kennedy connection and his oddball approach to campaigning, while the former Republican George T. Conway III has focused narrowly on his opposition to Mr. Trump, and the state lawmakers Micah Lasher and Alex Bores have duked it out in a race where most of the candidates are largely ideologically aligned.
Uptown in the 13th District, stretching from Upper Manhattan to parts of the Bronx, Mr. Mamdani was expected to endorse the five-term incumbent, Adriano Espaillat. But late last month, he shook up the race by throwing his support behind Darializa Avila Chevalier, an organizer and fellow democratic socialist. Ms. Avila Chevalier has taken heat for past social media posts — since deleted — in which she expressed support for abolishing prisons and defunding the police and questioned Israel’s right to exist.
Another race, in the Seventh District in gentrifying parts of Brooklyn and Queens, pits Antonio Reynoso, the progressive Brooklyn borough president, against Claire Valdez, a democratic socialist and relative newcomer to the State Assembly who entered the race at the mayor’s urging.
Races Around the State
Voters will also choose their candidate for state comptroller. Thomas P. DiNapoli, a Democrat, has securely held the post for nearly two decades; he has never before had a primary challenger. Now, two newcomers running to his left — Raj Goyle and Drew Warshaw — are looking to capitalize on the energy Mr. Mamdani injected into politics across the state to unseat Mr. DiNapoli, the second-longest serving comptroller in state history.
Other key races are taking place north of the city. In the 17th District, Democrats will choose their challenger to Mike Lawler, a Trump ally and one of the most vulnerable House Republicans. And in the right-leaning 21st District in upstate New York, Republicans are locked in a bitter primary fight to replace Representative Elise Stefanik.
The Mayor’s Role
As Mr. Mamdani looks to use his own popularity to secure more seats for left-leaning candidates, his support has been a boon for the campaigns of Ms. Valdez, Mr. Lander and Ms. Avila Chevalier. Taking advantage of the Knicks-induced fever sweeping across New York City, the mayor appeared in a basketball-themed campaign ad alongside his three picks that ran during the N.B.A. Finals, presenting the candidates by saying, “New York, we know anything is possible with a great team.”
“Get out and vote,” Mr. Mamdani says in the ad. “This is the team. This is our year.”
Nicholas Fandos and Benjamin Oreskes contributed reporting.