New York City’s mayoral race is tightening as early voting surges across the five boroughs, with new polling showing progressive frontrunner Zohran Mamdani’s lead beginning to narrow. The New York City Board of Elections reports that more than 584,000 residents have already cast their ballots—a striking turnout suggesting high engagement in what has become one of the city’s most closely watched races in years.

The latest survey indicates that Mamdani, once seen as holding a comfortable advantage, is now facing a more competitive landscape as rival candidates intensify their outreach efforts. Campaign teams have ramped up appearances across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, holding rallies, town halls, and meet-and-greet events to win over undecided voters in the race’s final stretch.

Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist and vocal critic of U.S. foreign policy toward Israel, has drawn sharp reactions for his outspoken positions and progressive platform. His campaign has energized younger, left-leaning voters but alienated many moderates and pro-Israel New Yorkers who view his rhetoric as divisive and dangerous. Recent backlash over his foreign policy statements appears to have contributed to his slipping poll numbers, according to campaign insiders and political observers.

Meanwhile, centrist and moderate candidates are capitalizing on public frustration with crime, housing affordability, and quality-of-life issues that have dominated the campaign narrative. Several analysts note that the late-stage tightening reflects growing skepticism toward Mamdani’s progressive agenda, especially among working-class and immigrant communities wary of radical reforms and anti-police sentiment.

With just days remaining before Election Day, momentum appears to be shifting. The enthusiasm surrounding early voting—already surpassing expectations—underscores the stakes of this election and the sense that every vote will count in determining the city’s future direction.

As campaigns fan out across the boroughs, the once seemingly inevitable Mamdani victory now looks far less certain. For many New Yorkers, the contest has become more than a race for City Hall—it’s a referendum on the city’s values, its security, and its identity.