The New York City mayoral election is heating up, with early voting well underway. Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa are vying to replace outgoing Mayor Eric Adams. 

So far, early voting totals this year are vastly outpacing the 2021 election, according to the City Board of Elections. 

As New Yorkers cast their ballots for the next leader of the city, here’s a look at the candidates’ positions on key issues and their pitch to voters.

The list below appears in the latest polling order. 

Democrat Zohran Mamdani

Election 2025 New York Mayor

Democratic candidate Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani smiles before the second New York City mayoral debate at LaGuardia Community College in the Queens on Oct. 22, 2025.

Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times via AP, Pool

Mamdani joined CBS News New York’s Marcia Kramer for an interview in September and outlined his plan for public safety, including creating the Department of Community Safety. His campaign also centers heavily around affordability, calling for a rent freeze for rent stabilized units, free bus service and universal child care.

How does he plan to pay for these proposals? In part, he says, by increasing the corporate tax rate to 11.5% — the same as New Jersey — and instituting a flat 2% tax rate for individuals earning $1 million or more. 

Kramer asked Mamdani about pressure from the White House and concerns from business leaders about his campaign.

“My vision for making the most expensive city in the United States of America affordable is actually one that benefits all of us,” he said.

On crime and safety, Mamdani says his Department of Community Safety would employ mental health outreach workers who would be deployed to subway stations. He says it would cost $1 billion, and said his his proposal is backed by former NYPD Chief of Department Rodney Harrison. 

Despite past statements, Mamdani said he believes the NYPD’s current headcount is “appropriate,” and he hopes his strategy will help retain officers by making their job more achievable. 

Mamdani, who is endorsed by the city’s largest teachers’ union, said he wants to eliminate the Gifted and Talented program for public school students ages 5 and younger and that he does not support expanding the cap on charter schools. Both of his opponents have said they would like to expand the program and the number of charters. 

A CBS News poll conducted last month found affordability is top of mind for NYC voters — 37% of likely voters said the cost of living is their most important issue, followed by crime and safety at 31%. The poll, taken before Adams ended his campaign, showed Mamdani was seen as the candidate most likely to “bring change” and “get things done.”

After winning the Democratic nomination, the Queens assemblyman will also appear on ballots as the Working Families candidate. 

CLICK HERE to watch Mamdani’s full interview on “The Point with Marcia Kramer,” and CLICK HERE for a closer look at his campaign policies. 

Independent Andrew Cuomo

Election 2025 New York Mayor

Independent candidate former Gov. Andrew Cuomo arrives to participate in the first New York City mayoral debate on Oct. 16, 2025.

Angelina Katsanis / AP

Cuomo most recently appeared on The Point earlier this month and said affordability, crime and public education are the key issues, but that the city has a perception problem and he wants to restore its image. 

“[New Yorkers] feel the city is headed in the wrong direction. There’s a sense of chaos, the city’s out of control, the city’s in decline,” the former governor said. “And that’s how I feel also, by the way.” 

Cuomo wants to hire 5,000 more NYPD officers and crack down on e-bike violations, endeavors he says people would notice in his first 100 days and feel safer from.  

Cuomo’s affordability policies call for expanding access to housing, child care, health care and transportation.

Unlike Mamdani, he would not freeze the rent, which he called “a gimmick that comes back and bites you in the tuchus later on.” His plan is to build 80,000 new, affordable units and have the market take it from there.

“The real answer is build more housing because we have a 1% vacancy rate,” he said.

Cuomo is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary. He will appear on the ballot under an independent line for his “Fight and Deliver Party.”

He resigned as New York’s governor in 2021 after nearly a dozen women accused him of sexual harassment. He denied the allegations but ultimately stepped down in the face of an impeachment investigation. 

He was also accused of lying to Congress about his administration’s reporting of nursing home deaths during the COVID pandemic. The Justice Department started a probe into those claims.

CLICK HERE to watch Cuomo’s full interview on “The Point,” and CLICK HERE for a closer look at his campaign policies.

Republican Curtis Sliwa

New York City Mayoral Debate

Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa is seen prior to the first New York City mayoral debate on Oct. 16, 2025. 

Angelina Katsanis / AP Photo / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Sliwa has been a figure of New York City politics since founding the Guardian Angels safety patrol group in the 1970s. While he’s known for his signature red beret, he says he would be willing to change up his look if elected.

The Republican considers himself a “law and order” candidate and says he wants to hire 7,000 additional police officers. 

He previously told Kramer he hopes to be viewed as a combination of former Mayors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg. Giuliani has since endorsed Sliwa in the race, after Bloomberg came forward to endorse Cuomo in the primary.  

Sliwa has repeatedly brushed off calls for him to leave the race and make it a two-way matchup between Cuomo and Mamdani. He says it’s up to voters to decide the outcome, even parting with his longtime WABC boss John Catsimatidis.

“I’m the only one standing between Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo, who I call Zohran lite,” Sliwa told CBS News earlier this month.

He will appear on the ballot as both the Republican nominee and as an independent candidate for his “Protect Animals Party.” He is a staunch animal rights advocate who says he wants to eliminate horse drawn carriages and kill-shelters citywide.

Sliwa previously ran for mayor in 2021 and lost to Adams.

CLICK HERE to watch Sliwa’s July interview on “The Point,” and CLICK HERE for a closer look at his campaign policies.

Marcia Kramer

contributed to this report.