New York City's Democratic mayoral primary race has entered its final stage, with polls open on June 24, 2025. The contest has narrowed to a close battle between former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, 67, and progressive Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, 33, highlighting a divide between the party's center and its left wing [2][3].

Recent polling data has shown a tightening race. The Yale Youth Poll, conducted with YouGov between June 17 and 23, revealed a surprising lead for Mamdani among the city's wealthiest voters. In the final round of ranked-choice voting simulation, Mamdani led Cuomo by 20 points among voters with incomes over $100,000, securing 60% to Cuomo's 40% [1].

Another poll by Emerson College Polling, released on June 23, predicted that while Cuomo would lead in the first round of ranked-choice voting, Mamdani would ultimately prevail after the eighth round [3]. This shift has been reflected in betting markets, with Cuomo's odds of winning plummeting on the crypto-based platform Polymarket [3].

The election employs a ranked-choice voting system, allowing voters to select up to five candidates in order of preference. If no candidate secures more than 50% of first-place votes, subsequent rounds will tally voters' second through fifth choices [2]. This process, combined with the acceptance of absentee and mail-in ballots until July 1, means the final result may not be known until a week after the primary [2].

Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has focused his campaign on cost of living issues and economic fairness, which appears to have resonated even with higher-income voters [1]. Cuomo, leveraging his experience as a former governor, represents a more centrist Democratic approach [3].

As New Yorkers head to the polls, they face not only a choice between political ideologies but also a test of the city's new voting system. With over 380,000 early votes already cast [3], the outcome of this primary could significantly shape the future direction of America's largest city.

Polls are set to close at 9 p.m., with initial results expected shortly after [2]. However, given the complexities of the ranked-choice system and the potential impact of absentee ballots, a clear winner may not emerge for several days.