<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the most populous city in the United States, a mayoral race between traditional politics and a new-age grassroots campaign has captured worldwide attention.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New Yorkers will head to the polls on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) to elect either young Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, former Democratic governor turned independent Andrew Cuomo and the red beret-wearing Republican Curtis Sliwa.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mamdani is leading, followed by Cuomo. Sliwa is not considered to be a serious candidate. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/family-financial-help-heating-up-housing-market-finder-survey/ef0be735-9f2d-4a88-a7b0-31c7b642a38f" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>The concerning factor believed to be behind surging house prices</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dozens of other cities are holding a mayoral election this week, but what makes this one so different is the international intrigue.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mamdani, the 34-year-old progressive state assembly member and Muslim immigrant, shot in popularity due to his clean and charismatic social media campaign, which saw him collaborate with influencers and artists as well as push his message to voters on the ground.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He has been campaigning about affordability issues, promising rent freezes, universal childcare and free buses, which will be funded by increasing taxes on the rich and promising to work for the people rather than big corporations and billionaires. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/new-york-mayoral-race-zohran-mamdani-andrew-cuomo-curtis-sliwa-campaign/b65c9613-fca0-4fee-8dc6-be4586745329" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His message has been backed by popular Democratic progressives Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/former-prince-andrew-to-lose-final-military-title-uk-minister-says/9604e14d-bd11-4841-a2e0-cc0b78094a2c"><strong><span>Former prince Andrew to lose final military title</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As the polls suggest, Mamdani is poised to make history as New York's youngest mayor in more than a century and the first Muslim and South Asian mayor.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His campaign has resonated with young voters and residents battling the cost of living.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're talking to young people like we would talk to anyone, we're not patronising them, we're not condescending," Mamdani told The Daily Show.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It has also reached millions across the world, with social media comments from people in Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe, India and Japan sharing their support for him.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That's my mayor! (I live in Australia)," one user writes. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Watching from New Zealand with baited breath," another says. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm so impressed and inspired by this campaign! Big hug from the Netherlands," a third says.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm rooting for you from Paris," a fourth adds.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-orders-pentagon-to-prepare-for-war-in-nigeria/8f2e241e-e5bb-467d-8a4b-fa501e379026" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Pentagon preparing war plans after Trump threatens nation online</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mamdani won and knocked out Cuomo as the Democratic nominee in the primaries in June, forcing his opponent to run for mayor as an independent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His campaign is feared (and hoped for by his supporters) to upend traditional politics.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But his past support for the defund the police movement, comments about Israel and Zionism and ambitious policies have made him a polarising figure.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>President Donald Trump has threatened to pull federal funding if New York elects what he called a "100 per cent communist lunatic".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>CNBC reported that the city's billionaires, like Bill Ackman and Ronald Lauder, have raised more than $40 million to slow down Mamdani's campaign and support Cuomo.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/british-police-say-multiple-people-were-stabbed-on-a-train-near-cambridge-and-2-individuals-arrested/0f8497e4-a984-4b4f-b94f-875fe955340d" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>UK train stabbing suspect released as 'hero' fights for life</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mamdani's youth and lack of experience in an executive role have also caused concern among some voters, in comparison to Cuomo's decade as governor before he was forced to step down amid sexual misconduct allegations in 2021.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As Sliwa said in a mocking statement during the last debate: "Zohran, your resume could fit on a cocktail napkin, and Andrew, your failures could fill a public school library in New York City."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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