New York City voters have shown considerable interest and engagement in the upcoming mayoral election set for Tuesday. Early, in-person voting saw over 735,000 votes cast over nine days, a significant increase compared to the 2021 election, which also allowed early voting. The city, with a population of around 8.5 million, stands as the largest in the United States and the nation’s financial hub.

Recent polls indicate that New York may be on the verge of electing its first Muslim mayor, a Democrat, a development that led former U.S. President Donald Trump to threaten withholding federal funds from the city.

The three main contenders in the mayoral race are Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an Independent. Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assemblyman, defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary by a significant margin, prompting Cuomo to switch to an Independent candidacy.

Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has centered his campaign on addressing the city’s cost of living and affordability issues. His proposed policies include raising taxes on the wealthiest residents, increasing the corporate tax, freezing stabilized apartment rental rates, and expanding publicly subsidized housing.

Cuomo, aged 67, aims to make a political comeback after resigning as governor following allegations of sexual harassment. Despite initially running as a Democrat, Cuomo has been targeting Republican voters by drawing parallels between Mamdani’s potential administration and left-wing governments in Latin America. He has positioned himself as the candidate best suited to beat Mamdani, pledging to bolster law enforcement and reduce crime.

Sliwa, 71, trails behind the two frontrunners and previously ran unopposed in the Republican primary. An advocate for animal rights, Sliwa’s campaign focuses on improving quality of life, particularly in the city’s outer boroughs, and enhancing public safety. He has also positioned himself as an anti-Trump Republican.

With no incumbent in the race, current mayor Adams, who initially planned to seek re-election as an Independent, withdrew from the race due to poor polling numbers. However, his name will still appear on the ballot.

Polls across New York’s five boroughs will open at 6 a.m. ET and close at 9 p.m. ET, with results expected shortly after. Mamdani has been leading the race, although Cuomo has narrowed the gap recently.

Trump has been vocal throughout the race, threatening to arrest Mamdani, deport him, and intervene in New York if Mamdani wins. He has warned of reduced federal funding for the city if Mamdani is elected, urging New Yorkers not to vote for Sliwa to avoid aiding Mamdani.

If Mamdani emerges victorious, it could have significant implications for the Democratic Party, with some viewing him as a rising star while others express concerns about potential Republican efforts to associate him with socialist ideals.