Progressive Candidates Form Unprecedented Partnership in New York City Mayor's Race

Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander, the leading progressive candidates in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, have formed an unprecedented partnership to leverage the ranked-choice voting system and defeat Andrew M. Cuomo, the former governor. The cross-endorsement, announced just before early voting begins, turns the two candidates into a joint entry, with each encouraging their supporters to rank them in the top two spots on their ballots. This move is seen as a strategic effort to pool their votes and potentially rise above Cuomo in the ranked-choice tabulations.

Key Takeaways:

• The partnership between Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander is the first true cross-endorsement under the ranked-choice voting system in New York City.
• The candidates hope to leverage the system to defeat Andrew M. Cuomo, who is attempting a comeback after resigning as governor in 2021.
• The partnership is seen as a strategic effort to pool their votes and rise above Cuomo in the ranked-choice tabulations.
• Each candidate has largely avoided criticizing the other, focusing their attacks on Cuomo.
• Other candidates in the primary have criticized Cuomo, who is attempting to win the primary set for June 24.
• The partnership could prompt other cross-endorsement deals as the primary draws closer.
• Zohran Mamdani has risen in the polls by focusing on affordability and energizing younger voters.
• Brad Lander has run as an earnest technocrat and has largely avoided criticizing Mamdani.

Statistics:

• Ranked-choice voting allowed primary voters to list up to five candidates in order of preference.
• If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of New Yorkers' first-choice votes, ranked-choice tabulations will begin.
• When voters' top choices are eliminated during the ranked-choice process, their support will be transferred to candidates lower on the ballot.
• In the 2021 mayoral primary, Andrew Yang's endorsement of Kathryn Garcia elevated her from third to second place.
• Kathryn Garcia finished fewer than 8,000 votes behind Eric Adams, who went on to become mayor.
• Eric Adams has a housing plan that was approved by Adrienne Adams.
• Adrienne Adams and Zellnor Myrie were also endorsed by the Working Families Party as part of its four-candidate slate.

Sources:

• [New York Times, "As NYC Mayoral Primary Heats Up, Viable Candidates Are Working Together to Try and Unseat Andrew Cuomo," by article author, article date]
• [New York Times, "Cuomo Accused of Gaffing His Critics," by article author, article date]