Early voting opens for New York, New Jersey elections

Polling places opened on Saturday for the start of in-person voting for two of the year’s most closely watched elections: the New York City mayor's race and the contest to pick New Jersey’s next governor.

- Philip Marcelo, Associated Press

Zohran Mamdani

(Associated Press)

New Yorkers are choosing between Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat on the ballot as an independent. The incumbent mayor, Eric Adams, is also on the ballot but dropped out of the race last month and recently threw his support behind Cuomo. The New Jersey governor's race features Republican state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli against Democratic US Rep. Mikie Sherrill.

The Off-year elections are key tests for Democratic Party leaders as they try to decide what kinds of candidates, priorities and political messaging might best counter Republican President Donald Trump’s agenda ahead of the crucial 2026 midterms. The races, to that end, have spotlighted affordability and cost of living issues as well as ongoing divisions within the Democratic Party, says Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University in New Jersey.