Both the Cuomo and Mamdani campaigns see Tuesday’s NYC primary as a jump ball

For all their disagreements, sources on both leading New York City mayoral primary campaigns tell CNN their assessment going into Election Day is the same: jump ball.

For all their disagreements, sources in both leading New York City mayoral primary campaigns tell CNN their assessment going into Election Day is the same: jump ball. Technically, there are 11 candidates on Tuesday’s ballot. But the final weeks of the Democratic race have revolved around Andrew Cuomo, who resigned as New York governor in 2021, and Zohran Mamdani, an assemblyman and democratic socialist who has been in government for less than five years. Who wins may come down to which candidate more voters find completely, absolutely unacceptable. Cuomo still faces skepticism over the issues that led him to quit as governor – sexual harassment allegations he has denied and his handling of Covid-19 – while Mamdani’s critics call out his thin government experience and question his past statements on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Polls close at 9 p.m. Eastern. The primary’s ranked-choice voting system could mean we don’t know a winner until at least next week. Perhaps the most unpredictable factor: Election Day will take place under an oppressive heat dome that settled in over the East Coast at the beginning of the week, with stay-inside advisories potentially depressing turnout among voters Tuesday and amplifying the importance of those New Yorkers who voted early. Here’s what to watch Tuesday night as New York Democrats make their picks for mayor and other offices: