New Yorkers headed to the polls on Tuesday to elect their next mayor, with progressive Democrat Zohran Mamdani emerging as the frontrunner in the latest opinion surveys. Mamdani, a 34-year-old American of Indian descent and vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, has gained strong momentum within the city’s left-leaning electorate.

Polling stations opened at 6 a.m. and will close at 9 p.m., with analysts predicting high turnout in what has been described as a highly energized race. Columbia University professor Lincoln Mitchell anticipates “significant voter participation” amid heightened political engagement.

Recent polls show Mamdani leading by 4.5 to 16 points over his main challenger, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani.

Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels volunteer group and known for his regular media appearances and passion for cats, trails in third place.

Early voting has surged, with more than 735,000 ballots cast ahead of election day—quadruple the early vote recorded in the 2021 mayoral race, reflecting rising enthusiasm and concern over election outcomes.

More than five million voters are eligible to participate, in a city where Democrats make up over 60% of registered voters. The elected mayor will assume office on January 1.