Today, voters will decide on who they want for mayor: Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, or Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.
New Yorkers will also vote in similarly impactful local elections for Borough President, City Comptroller, Public Advocate and City Council members. Voters will also answer six ballot questions, three of which pertain to the creation of affordable housing.
The East Bronx District 13 council race will be one of the city’s most-watched. Republican incumbent Kristy Marmorato faces a challenge from Democrat and labor-backed candidate Shirley Aldobol. The two faced off in a recent BronxNet debate discussing President Donald Trump, public safety, local development projects and more.
Among the many in CD13 who cast early ballots from Oct. 25 through Nov. 2, 61% were registered Democrats and 22% were registered Republicans, according to Board of Elections data.
Early voters over age 60 accounted for 43% of the total, followed by those ages 45 to 60 (28.7%) and 26 to 44 (21.1%). The youngest demographic, ages 18-25, made up 7.2%.
More than 735,000 New Yorkers cast their ballots during the early voting period, setting a non-Presidential election record for early turnout.
As of 8:45 p.m., more than two million New York City residents had voted — the highest turnout since 1969, according to the Board of Elections.
South Bronx residents head out to vote
Outside Bronx Borough Hall, Joseph Mendez told the Bronx Times, “I just came to vote … because I need a change.” He said Andrew Cuomo was the “best solution for New York right now because he has experience in New York City, and you know what he’s going to do.”
“I know he would do a good job for us here in New York,” said Mendez.
Another voter, who declined to provide his name, did not specify who he chose for mayor but said simply, “I don’t want Mamdani to come in.”
At P.S. 65 Mother Hale Academy on East 141st and Cypress Ave., a voter named Gladys, who declined to provide her last name, said she never misses an election because “that’s one of the ways we can change things, we can better ourselves.”
Gladys said she was most concerned about housing, hunger and homelessness in the city. “It’s bad, and we as a community should stick together and try to help each other out,” she said.”
Another P.S. 65 voter, Nathasha Bujosa, said she voted for Mamdani because affordable housing was her main concern. “Getting a place in New York City is like, I don’t know, fighting a gladiator,” she said.
Bujosa said studio rents on her street are approaching $2,000, but many households earn $50,000 or less per year. “These affordable housings are not built for the people in the neighborhood, nor were we ever in mind,” she said. “So it’s just nice to see someone who actually speaks for the people.”
Scenes from Pelham Parkway
Outside of P.S. 105 Sen Abraham Bernstein, a voter, who identified himself at Mr. Gonzalez decided to get out and vote today because he wants to see change.
“I’m a Harlem boy born and raised. One thing we were taught is how to care about your neighbors. And we kind of forgot that. People think these issues we’re having is a left issue or right issue. It’s an American issue.”
Another voter, Damilla Downie, an immigrant from Jamaicia told the Bronx Times that she voted because she’s concerned about the path New York is on.
“I really wanted to see if my vote would make a difference,” Downie said. “It’s imperative that we make some kind of difference collectively that all our votes count.”
A Republican voter, Edson Picon, said he came out to vote “for what he knows is right.”
“Right now, the democratic party is the danger. They’re a danger to the community, they’re a danger to America. They’re a danger to the Bronx,” he said.
Picon told the Bronx Times that President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Cuomo is what finalized who he would vote for. “Curtis is not going to win. We all know it. I’d rather vote for Cuomo. He didn’t do bad as a Governor.”
Bronx residents discuss priorities for their future mayor
Carmen Dilone, a voter who’s lived in the area on and off for 10 years placed her vote for Cuomo because she believes he’ll stand up to Trump.
“He is who he is, you know? I’m not voting for a personality contest. I’m voting for the person that’s gonna get things done,” Dilone said. “New York needs someone that knows the ranks, thats done it before and knows that because we’re in a very delicate situation right now. “
She worries about Trump getting upset if Mamdani wins and thinks he would take his anger out on the city. “I think the troops would be here the next day,” Dilone said.
Dania, another Kingsbridge voter who declined to give her last name, said she spent nearly 40 minutes trying to get help from the poll workers to update her information.
Ultimately she left in hopes of voting in her old district in Queens. “I really want to vote,” she told the Bronx Times.
Deborah Williams-Camps, who voted at Mosholu Montefiore Community Center told the Bronx Times how important it is for the next mayor to stand up to President Trump.
“I’m hoping whoever it is will have integrity and do the right things, regardless of the consequences,” Williams-Camps said. “That’s that’s my thing. I don’t care what label you’re wearing. Be a person of honesty and integrity. “She said she’s worried that Donald Trump was normalizing corruption in politicians. “You’re spending all these millions of dollars on a ballroom. You’ve destroyed a historic building and didn’t follow the rules properly. That’s what I’m talking about. And there’s people about to starve across the country because they can’t get their food resources. “
A Mamdani voter, Chelsie Headley, has worked as a social worker in the Bronx for nearly 10 years. “I do appreciate a candidate who is going to support the working families that I work with, especially my students, and making the city more affordable for all of the residents.”
Ari Wright, another voter, also placed a vote for Mamdani, “I just think we need a little bit of new, fresh young blood,” they said.
Wright added that they want to be able to trust the next mayor. “Cuomos campaign examplefied the rot within the Democratic Party establishment. I think this was a perfect opportunity, almost a perfect storm for New Yorkers to educate themselves and to really assert what they’re values are as a city, especially with the whole eyes of the nation watching this race.”
Jib Wirts brought three generations of his family to the polls. He and his sister bugged their mother, who was not initially going to vote, until she agreed to go vote. Even his 17 year old niece came to the polling site, though she couldn’t cast a ballot.
Wirtz has lived in the district since 1998 and voted for Cuomo.“I picked Cuomo because I seen what he done for us, and we was down during COVID and the way he actually spoke to us, he gave us everything we needed to know.”
Leslie, another voter, is a music therapist who moved to the Bronx a year ago from Hells Kitchen to find a place with more space. She’s a registered Republican who voted for Mamdani. She said she hasn’t voted for her own party in a while.
“I like all the policies that he that he put out there and that he’s working on. We need more progressive people.”
Gregory, a voter who declined to give his last name, said he voted for Mamdani because he resonated with Mamdani’s campaign focus on affordability. He said that he keeps seeing more and more people being priced out of the city.
“I liked his campaign advertising, it seemed more relatable to the average New Yorker. I know a lot of people from different races, different backgrounds and stuff andI know that building a city that will we can all live in, I think that’s very progressive.”
Perspectives from the East Bronx
Luis Texidor, a voter who has lived in Morris Park for 20 years said his biggest concerns are about immigration and the economy.
“I disagree with the idea of kids going to school and they come home and the parents are in a center, detained by ICE,” Texidor said, adding that immigrants shouldn’t be treated “like dogs.”
He voted for Cuomo because he says experience is “the most important thing,” and “he has a lot of ideas how to solve different problems.”
Michael Dunn, a lifelong Throggs Neck resident, was campaigning for Kristy Marmorato outside of St. Francis de Chantal Church. “Her being the only Republican, she actually has to stand her ground on many issues” but is afraid she won’t be re-elected because of the “overwhelming amount” of Democrats.
As for mayor, Dunn voted for Cuomo because he, “has experience” but thinks he should have to apologize for sending seniors back to nursing homes during COVID-19.
Muhammad Ahmad and Kiran Qazi, a couple who have lived in Morris Park for three years, feels that voting should be an obligation for every U.S. Citizen.
They brought their four-week-old baby to vote for Mamdani and told the Bronx Times that he is reflective of New York City. Ahmad said that local leaders should have “impeccable character, serving the people and not self-interest.” But that he would “turn against” Mamdani if he doesn’t keep his promises.
Grace Marrero, Bronx Borough President candidate on Republican and Conservative Party lines told the Bronx Times that people should be appointed “who actually know the community.”
Marrero has said that she has struggled to raise fund and spent money frugally on her campaign, “I know how to make a buck last long.” Yet, thinks her candidacy might at least be a “wake up call” to current Borough President Vanessa Gibson.
Shirley Aldebol, the Democratic candidate running for District against Kristy Marmorato told the Bronx Times that she was “optomisitic that I’m gonna win this race” and that she was felt an overwhelming amount of support from labor groups.
“People really want a change,” Aldebol said. “It’s been a crazy experience,” she added. “I feel like I have the knowledge and skills to do this”
Jonathan Portee, Olivia Seaman and Jaeqwon Suarez contributed to this story.
