On the eve of New York City’s mayoral election, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani intensified his outreach across the five boroughs, seeking to broaden his appeal — including to supporters of his main rival, former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
As the race entered its final stretch in the city of nearly nine million, Mamdani, who is Muslim and was born in Uganda, spent Saturday campaigning alongside civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton in East Harlem.
East Harlem is a predominantly Black and Latino neighborhood. Sharpton denounced what he described as “ugly Islamophobia” underpinning recent attacks from Cuomo’s campaign.
“I am outraged at the ugly Islamophobia that has been used in this campaign to act as though every Muslim is a terrorist,” Sharpton said to loud applause days before the November 4 election.
“If you can’t get a vote on your record, don’t play us against each other.”
On Sunday, a prominent Jewish political leader Rabbi Moshe Indig of the sect known as Ahronim, announced his support for Mamdani at a meeting in Williamsburg. However, some members of the sect opposed it and declared their endorsement of Cuomo.
I was honored to receive the endorsement of Rabbi Moshe Indig and Ahronim leaders in Williamsburg today, where we were joined by my friend @LincolnRestler.
Together, we will fight the scourge of antisemitism and build a city that works for every New Yorker. pic.twitter.com/hPyAh5k3MH
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 2, 2025
On Saturday, Sharpton’s public embrace of Mamdani — who would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor, if elected — underscored the Democratic nominee’s growing support among influential Black leaders.
Later that day, Mamdani attended a church service in Brooklyn alongside House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both of whom command significant sway among Black voters, according to political observers.
In what observers called a significant development, Mamdani also spoke by phone with former President Barack Obama, who, The New York Times reported, offered to serve as a “sounding board” should Mamdani win the mayoralty.
Meanwhile, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, who is polling third, urged voter participation regardless of political affiliation.
“If you can’t get a vote on your record, don’t play us against each other.”
I’m grateful for @TheRevAl’s powerful words of unity at @NationalAction this morning and against the cynical politics of fear and division. pic.twitter.com/rTNFki6xa7
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 1, 2025
“It’s so important to vote, even if you don’t vote for me,” Sliwa told supporters.
Mamdani’s campaign has drawn strong backing from the city’s Indian American and Pakistani American communities, with many citing his fluency in Urdu and his South Asian immigrant background as sources of pride and connection.
Across the multicultural city, the 34-year-old Mamdani has garnered wide support since launching his grassroots activist approach which focuses on issues of affordability, cost of living and public transport.
All three major candidates had packed schedules on Sunday as the New York City Marathon drew large crowds.
Mamdani, who ran in the 2022 and 2024 races, greeted runners and supporters in Brooklyn during a campaign stop, where some spectators waved signs referencing the tight mayoral contest.
🚨 Big News! 🚨 The Satmar Aronite Community leaders in Brooklyn proudly endorse Andrew Cuomo @andrewcuomo for Mayor of NYC! As our Grand Rebbe Aron has said, “Not only should you #Vote with your whole family, but also become an activist to ensure others vote!” 🗳️ Find your poll… pic.twitter.com/cd0rvf1raH
— Satmar Headquarters (@HQSatmar) November 2, 2025
Early voting, which began on October 25, has drawn historic participation.
As of Saturday night, approximately 584,000 ballots had been submitted — a sharp increase from the same point in the 2021 mayoral race. On Saturday alone, more than 104,000 voters cast early ballots, marking the highest single-day turnout since polls opened.
Mamdani surged to front-runner status after his surprise victory over Cuomo in the June Democratic primary, a result that reshaped the city’s political landscape.
In recent weeks, Cuomo — whose campaign is backed by several billionaires — has attempted to paint Mamdani as a “radical democratic socialist” out of step with mainstream Democratic voters.
Thank you to the great people of Queens! Proud to have had such a great car rally with @JoannAriola32 and @avaichunasnyc as we fight to save NYC. The next time you vote is Election Day, if you or someone you know hasn’t voted yet- MAKE YOUR PLAN HERE: https://t.co/SnawWQJs3U 🗳️ pic.twitter.com/Lva1czUStS
— Curtis Sliwa (@CurtisSliwa) November 2, 2025
Mamdani, has energized young progressives with his unconventional campaign in the mainstream and diverse communities including the city’s Jewish population.
However, his platform has drawn concern from the city’s business elite and moderate Democrats, who fear his left-wing agenda could provide ammunition for Republicans in next year’s midterm elections.
As New Yorkers prepare to head to the polls, the mayoral race has laid bare the divisions within the Democratic Party — and within the city itself — with both leading candidates accusing the other of deepening those divides.
Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
