New York's Democratic Primary: A Tight Race with Big Stakes

In the New York City mayoral race, things are heating up. Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old assemblyman, is giving Andrew Cuomo, the 67-year-old former governor, a run for his money. A recent poll shows they're neck and neck, with Mamdani even pulling ahead when considering ranked-choice voting. Ranked-choice voting is a new system where voters pick their top five candidates in order. If no one gets over 50% of the first-choice votes, the last-place candidate is kicked out, and their votes go to the next choice. This could help candidates who aren't leading in the polls, like Brad Lander, Adrienne Adams, or Scott Stringer. But let's not forget, the current mayor, Eric Adams, isn't even in this race. He's running as an independent after a fundraising scandal. And Cuomo? He's still dealing with those old sexual harassment claims that got him booted as governor. Now, Cuomo has some big-name backers, like Mike Bloomberg, Bill Clinton, and Jim Clyburn. Mamdani, on the other hand, has the support of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders. But the New York Times editorial board isn't a fan, calling him "uniquely unsuited" for the job. This race is more than just about New York. It's a showdown between centrists and progressives, and the whole country is watching. Who will come out on top? It's anyone's guess. But wait, there's more! International politics are creeping into the race. Mamdani has been accused of antisemitism for defending the phrase "globalize the intifada. " He says it's being twisted to smear him. And after the recent US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, Mamdani slammed it, saying it's a "dark new chapter. " Cuomo, meanwhile, says Iran can't have nuclear capability, period.