Ranked-choice voting could delay race call in NYC Democratic mayoral primary

The Democratic mayoral primary in New York City has come to a close, but the winner is still uncertain due to the implementation of ranked-choice voting. The initial unofficial tally from the Board of Elections shows Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in the lead with over 43% of the vote. However, this could change once the ranked-choice votes are calculated.

Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assembly member who would be the city’s first Muslim mayor, received a last-minute surge in support after securing endorsements from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was considered the clear frontrunner in the race, garnered over 36% of the vote in the initial tally.

Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank up to five candidates on their ballot in order of preference. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the first-choice votes, the voting moves to rounds where the candidate with the least votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the voters’ next-highest ranked choices.

The process continues until there are two candidates left, and the candidate with the most votes wins. Since none of the candidates received more than 50% of the vote, ranked-choice tabulations won’t start until July 1, giving the city time to receive mail-in ballots.

The heatwave that hit New York City on primary day may have affected voter turnout, particularly among older voters. The race may come down to Cuomo’s union support and campaign structure versus Mamdani’s volunteer forces. Cuomo has been campaigning on his experience as a former governor, while Mamdani has been pushing for progressive policies like eliminating bus fares and making City University of New York tuition-free.

The crowded field of Democratic candidates also includes former Comptroller Scott Stringer, educator Selma Bartholomew, and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams is running for re-election as an independent, while former federal prosecutor Jim Walden and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa are also in the race.

It remains to be seen who will come out on top in the Democratic mayoral primary, but with ranked-choice voting in play, it could be some time before a winner is declared. The city awaits the final results as the candidates and their supporters anxiously await the outcome.