Polls have opened in New York and some key US states as fresh “off year” elections test the popularity of Donald Trump’s Republican party and Democrats’ ability to bounce back from drastic 2024 losses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Voters in New Jersey and Virginia are choosing their governors, but it is the campaign of young leftist Zohran Mamdani, the Democrat vying to run the Big Apple, which has garnered the most public attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He is widely predicted to beat independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and, if elected, would become New York’s first Muslim mayor and its youngest leader in decades.<\/p>\n
‘Time for a new day in our politics’<\/p>\n
The result of the New York mayoral race is just one of several being closely watched on Tuesday, local time. (AP: Allison Robbert)<\/p>\n
Speaking after voting in New York City, Mr Mamdani said his campaign wanted to “transform the most expensive city in the United States of America into one that’s affordable for each and every person who calls it home”.<\/p>\n
He also thanked the 100,000 volunteers who helped fuel his campaign.<\/p>\n
“It is time now for a new day in our politics,” he said.<\/p>\n
When asked about Mr Trump’s threat to reduce federal funding to New York if he won, Mr Mamdani said he would “not be intimidated by this president”.<\/p>\n
“I will not be intimidated by anyone because my job here is to serve the people of this city.”<\/p>\n
The outcome of the mayoral race is being eyed up as a test of the future of the Democrats, with Mr Mamdani’s campaign centring on the cost of living.<\/p>\n
He has promised higher taxes on the richest New Yorkers, rent freezes for one million apartments, free bus fares and free universal child care.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But his comments about the conflict in Gaza and his criticism of Israel’s actions there<\/a>, in a city with a large Jewish population, have prompted criticism.\u00a0<\/p>\n Andrew Cuomo was New York state’s governor through the COVID-19 pandemic, but resigned over sexual harassment allegations. (AP: Richard Drew)<\/p>\n Some Democrats have refused to endorse him, and Mr Mamdani’s rise has also drawn the ire of Republicans, including US President Donald Trump, who has cast the 34-year-old as a radical.<\/p>\n Opinion polls have consistently placed Mr Mamdani first, with Mr Cuomo a distant second followed by Mr Sliwa.<\/p>\n Despite being the Republican candidate, Mr Trump has urged voters not to vote for Mr Sliwa and instead chose Mr Cuomo, who is at attempting to stage a political comeback after resigning as New York state governor over sexual harassment allegations<\/a>.<\/p>\n Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa rose to fame after founding a volunteer crime-fighting organisation. (AP: Richard Drew)<\/p>\n A day earlier, Mr Cuomo told a crowd of supporters Mr Mamdani’s victory would see Mr Trump “send the National Guard here to New York”.<\/p>\n He also reiterated key election commitments of his campaign, including cleaning up the city, improving its public schools and putting more police on the streets.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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