**New York City Mayoral Race: Voices from Harlem 24 Hours Before the Final Vote**
*By Taya Graham and Stephen Janis*
This is Taya Graham and Stephen Janis reporting from Harlem, New York, just 24 hours before the final vote in the New York Mayor’s race. We visited this bustling neighborhood to ask voters about the issues important to them, their opinions on the frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, his opponent former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and what they hope the new mayor will accomplish.
But first, let’s hear directly from the voters themselves.
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**Mamdani vs. Cuomo: Who Do Harlem Voters Want as Mayor?**
James B Cray shared his preference:
*“Mayor Mamdani.”*
When asked why, he explained:
*“Well, Mamdani is speaking about a lot of things that really address the people, such as housing and transportation issues. I think he’s more at the forefront of what a lot of young people want to hear about. We’ve had de Blasio and Bloomberg, and the cycle just keeps going on without a lot of our issues being addressed.”*
Another voter, who asked to be identified as “Vincent,” expressed a desire for change:
*“It’s time for a change and time for new blood.”*
When pressed if that meant support for Mamdani, Vincent agreed:
*“Yes. People that care about people, it’s important.”*
He added that he appreciated how Mamdani focuses on working-class concerns:
*“He wants to do things for people who are working class, trying to get by, make a living, put food on the table, and get to work.”*
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**Views on Media Coverage and Socialist Label**
Taya Graham noted the mainstream media narrative about Mamdani’s socialist label and asked for Vincent’s thoughts.
Vincent responded:
*“It’s interesting because our democracy used to be about helping people and supporting working people. We’ve gone away from that. Now it’s all about corporations and giving tax breaks to the wealthy. I think it’s time we let someone who represents working-class people have a chance at the table.”*
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**Expectations and Predictions**
Richard shared his thoughts on the race:
*“Mamdani’s going to win because he’s young and a new face. Many people can’t resist that. Cuomo has had his issues; people say he messed up a lot. I don’t really hear any negativity about Mamdani.”*
Kimberly took a more cautious approach:
*“At this point, it’s about whoever is best for the job. There have been many mayors we thought were best, but we often end up with the short end of the stick. So time will tell.”*
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**Important Issues for the Next Mayor**
When asked about the issues they want the next mayor to focus on, conversations frequently centered around housing, food security, and public transportation.
Pastor Dave expressed skepticism about both candidates:
*“Not really inspired by those choices. We had a lot of issues with Cuomo in the last couple of years when he left office. Mamdani comes with an agenda that isn’t very American or patriotic. It’s just another socialist program, and we’re not really interested in that. What would really empower people is to make them less dependent on the government and its system. So, I’m not a big fan of him because of that.”*
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**Voting Motivations**
One voter, who spoke with us as Speaker 7, shared their reason for voting early:
*“I voted earlier because I had to do my duty. I will always vote. I didn’t want either of the other two choices, and I knew who I was voting for. Hopefully, Mamdani will be the new mayor.”*
When asked what inspired their choice, they said:
*“He’s just something different. I worry about his experience, but hopefully, he’ll have enough help. We just need something new.”*
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As New Yorkers head to the polls, the voices from Harlem reveal a neighborhood eager for change and representation that acknowledges the daily challenges residents face—from housing and transportation to economic fairness.
Stay tuned for more coverage as the results come in.
https://therealnews.com/nyc-voters-want-real-change