The Brian Lehrer Show City Politics: State of the Race; New Voters
Oct 8, 2025
Bridget Bergen, a senior political correspondent for WNYC and Gothamist, and Elizabeth Kim, a political reporter from the same outlets, dive into the dynamics of the NYC mayoral race. They explore the surge of young, first-time voters and discuss how a recent video spurred a remarkable spike in voter registrations. The guests analyze how new residents lean towards certain candidates, the impact of campaign strategies, and the contrasting perceptions of candidates like Curtis Sliwa. They also assess the significance of clearer governance plans as election day approaches.
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Frontrunner Plays It Safe
- Zoran Mamdani shifted to a risk-minimization strategy after the primary, focusing on protecting his lead.
- His campaign now limits press access and emphasizes style over new policy rollouts.
Surge Of First-Time Primary Voters
- About 7% of primary voters were first-time primary voters, roughly 76,860 people.
- That share was far higher than 2021, when first-time voters made up only 2% of turnout.
Last-Minute Registration Surge
- Mamdani's June 9 campaign video and targeted outreach drove a wave of registrations in the final five days.
- Forty-three percent of 2025 registrations came in that window and 58% of those new registrants voted.