A senior adviser to Zohran Mamdani’s campaign told CNN they are encouraged by high voter turnout in Brooklyn, which they believe could push Mamdani over the 50% mark in the mayoral race.

The campaign is monitoring turnout borough by borough, with a particular focus on:

Brownstone Brooklyn – known for its affluent, progressive base
Parts of Queens – including Mamdani’s home district
The Bronx
Manhattan, excluding the Upper East Side, which is expected to favor former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

According to the New York City Board of Elections, more than 478,000 ballots have already been cast in Brooklyn.

Youth surge offsets early older voter turnout

Mamdani’s team believes that while older voters dominated early voting — a potential boost for Cuomo — a surge in younger voters during the final weekend of early voting has helped them close the gap.

Cuomo has targeted moderate Democrats and crossover Republicans, but Mamdani remains confident. When asked if he needed over 50% of the vote for a mandate, he responded that “Winning will be the mandate.”

Exit polls highlight stark differences among candidates

Preliminary CNN exit polls reveal clear divides in voter motivations and priorities among the three main candidates. Zohran Mamdani’s supporters overwhelmingly backed him out of genuine support — nearly 90% said their vote was for him directly, not against his opponents. For these voters, the cost of living and a desire for systemic change rank as top concerns, along with finding a leader who they believe truly represents people like them.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s base is more divided, with many voters split between supporting him and opposing other candidates. Among Cuomo’s supporters, the main issues are the rising cost of living and crime, while experience remains a key factor driving their choice.

Meanwhile, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa’s voters see crime as the city’s most pressing issue. They emphasize honesty, trustworthiness, and relatability as essential qualities in their preferred candidate.

Additionally, around 40% of voters said the candidates’ positions on Israel were a significant factor in their decision.

Roughly 1 in 6 voters reported that this is their first time voting in a New York City mayoral election.