Out and about with NYC’s mayoral hopefuls on the first day of early voting

“The camera of history is rolling on us today,” Rep. Greg Meeks said from the podium at the storied National Action Network headquarters in Harlem on Saturday morning, the first day of early voting in the New York City primaries. “The world is looking at what is happening in the city of New York with this upcoming mayoral election.” New Yorkers who get the print of edition of The New York Times read these words on Saturday’s front page: “The outcome of the June 24 election – one of Democrats’ first major primary fights since Mr. Trump stormed back to power – could very well set a model for ambitious Democratic candidates in the midterm elections next year and beyond.” 

By the end of the day, more than 30,000 New Yorkers had cast their votes – almost twice as many showed up on the first day of early voting in 2021.

In a year that shouldn’t have seen a major primary fight, and after months – for some, years – of campaigning, the Democratic primary for New York City mayor has crystallized into a significant contest with national implications. The first debate held earlier this month garnered more than 725,000 viewers – a 47% increase compared to the 2021 mayoral primary. This year’s primary now increasingly appears to be narrowing to a two-person race between former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, 67, and democratic socialist millennial Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, but half a dozen other contenders – some with decades of experience in public office – are making a final push – hoping for a miracle in a race that’s already seen numerous twists.

As the polls opened on Saturday, candidates and their teams fanned out across the city, bustling from place to place to meet voters at poll sites, speak to church congregations, appear with supporters, and march in the “No Kings” protest against the Trump administration and the Brooklyn Pride Parade. The early voting period will go until June 22, ending two days before primary Election Day.

Here’s what we saw on the first day of voting:

10 a.m. – Cuomo arrived at the National Action Network headquarters with prominent Black endorsers Queens Rep. Greg Meeks and Assembly Members Jordan Wright and Latrice Walker. The former governor touted his expansion of minority- and women-owned business contracting and promised to do more as mayor. The Rev. Al Sharpton said he’s not endorsing, but called for a mayor with “backbone.” “There’s a difference between activists that know how to tweet and activists who know how to fight,” he said.

12 p.m. – Former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer joined a number of elected officials at a get out the vote rally hosted by the West Side Democrats. There, Upper West Side Rep. Jerry Nadler introduced Stringer, describing his longtime ally as someone with deep knowledge of city government.

Taking the megaphone, Stringer echoed a talking point he’s pushed hard in recent weeks: that New Yorkers don’t need to choose between experience (a la Cuomo) and vision (Mamdani). He has both. He also took the opportunity to level a jab at one of his fellow candidates. 

“Despite what some say, The New York Times Editorial Board actually did not make endorsements right? Not everybody knows that or somebody didn’t figure it out,” Stringer said, referencing the panel of New Yorkers convened by the Times recently backed Brad Lander as the best pick for mayor. “I just want to say that if you don’t have a Times endorsement this year how do you make a decision? Well the second best Times endorsement is the Jerry Nadler endorsement,” he added. 

12:45 p.m. – Adrienne Adams arrived in Harlem to greet voters with City Council Member Yusef Salaam – a member of the Exonerated Five who endorsed her the day she launched her campaign for mayor. After Sharpton criticized her absence from the Mamdani and Lander cross endorsement, she confirmed she is “looking to cross-endorse.” On the debate stage, Adams has been continually critical of incumbent Mayor Eric Adams – even as other candidates turn their focus on Cuomo. On her surprise decision to run for mayor, she said: “There came a time when the tide turned and I couldn’t sit back and not do anything about the situation at City Hall.”

1 p.m. – State Sen. Zellnor Myrie took his mom to vote at SUNY Downstate – the hospital he advocated to save. “It means everything, because of what Downstate means not just as a health care institution, but a community institution,” Myrie later told City & State.

4 p.m. – Lander greeted voters near the Brooklyn Museum polling site, which appeared to have a steady trickle of people going inside to cast their ballots. He expressed optimism about the turnout – particularly in light of the unrelenting rain – and offered some insight into the timing of he and Mamdani cross-endorsing each other Friday afternoon. 

“We felt like we should get there by yesterday,” Lander said. “Obviously most voting will take place on Election Day, but it seemed like if we’re going to do something we should do it before the voting starts.” As for whether more will follow? “I don’t know,” he said, shrugging. “I hope so.”

6:55 p.m. At the Brooklyn Pride Parade, Lander celebrated Attorney General Letitia James’ No. 2 endorsement as well as the continued momentum from his cross endorsement with Mamdani. “Those voter turnout numbers were incredible and you really feel it all over the city,” he said.  Marching in the parade, Stringer said early voting numbers are “good for democracy.” 

7 p.m. – Around 3,000 of Mamdani’s supporters piled into Terminal 5 in Hells Kitchen as state Sen. John Liu, City Council Member Alexa Aviles, Working Families Party co-directors Ana María Archila and Jasmine Gripper, and — to thunderous applause — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez laid the groundwork for the Assembly member to take the stage. Ocasio-Cortez described the coming mayoral primary as symbolic for the entire country. 

“If we can change the page in the biggest and best city in the United States of America, we can change the page in our country too,” she said. Mamdani expressed similar sentiments. “We stand on the verge of a victory that will resonate across the country and the world,” he said, rousing cheer after cheer. Following the rally’s conclusion, a long line of people waiting to take selfies with Mamdani snaked across the venue.